Israeli startup converts AI data center heat into electricity
An Israeli startup called NanoTherma has developed technology that can harvest waste heat from AI data centers and convert it back into electricity, addressing one of the fastest-growing challenges facing the artificial intelligence industry: soaring energy consumption.
The company recently won a competition sponsored by Access, the Shapir Group’s innovation division, which connects startups with established companies in technology, construction and innovation to develop scalable solutions for major industrial challenges.
As AI systems expand worldwide, data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity while producing large quantities of heat that require additional energy-intensive cooling systems. The excess heat is typically lost, even as electricity and cooling costs continue rising sharply.
Nimrod Gazit, CEO and co-founder of NanoTherma, said, “In the age of artificial intelligence, energy is becoming the limiting factor. If we want AI to keep growing, we must stop wasting the energy we’ve already paid for.”
NanoTherma’s solution involves placing thin, lightweight modular panels into existing cooling and thermal management systems inside data centers. The panels are designed to fit into existing exhaust ports where heat is vented.
The system works by channeling heat between hot and cold zones within the infrastructure, using temperature differences to generate electrical currents that can be fed back into the grid.
Unlike many cooling technologies, the system operates without liquids, avoiding evaporation that can damage sensitive metal components. It also contains no moving parts, eliminating the need for additional electricity to keep the system operating.
Engineering experts say the technology could eventually be integrated into a wide range of industries beyond data centers, including desalination plants, factories, ships and large vehicles, potentially helping reduce energy consumption, costs and space requirements.
Judges in the competition unanimously selected NanoTherma as the winner, citing the company’s ability to move rapidly from concept to production. They also highlighted the growing market demand for energy-efficiency solutions and praised the team’s understanding of the technological and economic factors necessary for long-term success.
The judges said this was demonstrated through the company’s focus on long-term research, technological development models and awareness of relevant economic considerations, including the product’s future applications in additional markets.
“The infrastructure and construction world is at a moment of change. We see a real need for solutions that can bridge technological innovation with the sector’s everyday operational challenges,” said Dr. Ricardo Osiroff, CEO of Access.
As part of the award, NanoTherma will gain access to ongoing projects through companies connected to Access. The startup’s expertise in nanomaterials, semiconductor manufacturing processes and modular system design has already attracted interest from major corporations and governments worldwide.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
