Most promising Energy Start-ups in Belgium and the Netherlands to watch in 2024

The Rising Relevance of Energy Start-ups

Amidst a rising population and rapid urbanization, global energy demands are going through the roof. But we can’t simply go on raising our carbon emissions or depleting our natural resources for more energy – it’s damaging to the climate and our living conditions. The energy start-ups in Belgium and the Netherlands are developing energy-efficient ways to generate and conserve power, without worsening climate change.

After doing some digging, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 most promising energy start-ups across the two European countries that are redefining the sector. These fast-growing companies are playing a critical role in creating a greener tomorrow.

1. e-peas

Where: Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

As the world goes digital, electronic devices per capita are rising continuously. Consequently, there is an increased headache of charging and replacing batteries every day. From production to disposal, these batteries pose adverse environmental threats. e-peas, a semiconductor company, is working to reduce this battery waste with its energy harvesting, processing, and sensing solutions. With its solutions, e-peas supplies lifetime battery power to IoT devices across industries. It aims to develop these autonomous energy solutions to promote smarter power consumption and greater energy harvesting.

2. D-CRBN

Where: Antwerp, Belgium

D-CRBN’s mission is exactly what its name would make you think. The climate-tech start-up decarbonizes the atmosphere by recycling CO2 molecules into CO, to create valuable e-fuels, petrochemicals, or polymers. Major industries like steel, petrochemical, and maritime transport use these products as raw materials, helping them minimize production costs and fight climate change. The company is taking a harmful pollutant and converting it into a valuable business asset. Over the next few years, D-CRBN aims to recycle 1 million tonnes of CO2 yearly per industrial installation.

3. Enersee

Where: Brussels, Belgium

Large office and industrial buildings consume high amounts of energy and can produce a lot of toxic waste. It’s important to keep this energy usage, emissions, and pollutant production in check. Enersee provides an AI-powered self-learning energy management software to optimize energy utilization across real estate. The platform provides live insights to detect faults, identify improvement areas, and make suggestions, leading to 25% higher energy savings.

4. 247 Energy

Where: Beveren, Belgium

20% of the world’s population has no access to electricity, and 2.7 billion do not receive clean energy. 247 Energy is building a solution to reduce this disparity and allow 24/7 accessibility to clean energy. Instead of solar and hydropower, 247 Energy focuses on generating decentralized, digital energy systems based on sustainable gas sources. The flexible solution provides low-cost, on-demand energy even to remote locations. These power plants can serve as a permanent power source for industrial, residential, and official sites.

5. Tree Energy Solutions

Where: Brussels, Belgium

Inspired by trees producing oxygen using CO2, water, and sunlight, Tree Energy Solutions is developing a fast, effective method to decarbonize the world. First, the start-up creates green hydrogen molecules by generating renewable energy using solar panels and wind turbines. Then, they combine this green hydrogen with CO2 to create an environmentally sustainable electric natural gas (e-NG) to replace fossil fuels. TES’s e-NG serves as a low-cost, high-efficiency energy source for a greener world. Heavy industries like steel, cement, and transportation can use e-NG for sustainable electricity and energy generation.

6. Turbulent

Where: Wilsele, Flemish Region, Belgium

Hydroelectric power is not a new concept. However, Turbulent’s turbines are designed to be more inclusive and provide hydropower to even the remotest locations in the world. The company develops resilient, low-cost turbines that can harness energy from rivers with low height differences. A single Turbulent turbine can generate 15 to 70kW to power small households and businesses, while a cluster of turbines could generate multiple megawatts to electrify an entire region. The company aims to make this clean energy source more accessible and affordable across the world.

7. E-magy

Where: Broek op Langedijk, Netherlands

Even with the high-demand, lithium-ion batteries aren’t the safest or most sustainable power source. But what if these batteries become safer, smarter, and more efficient? This sums up what Emagy is up to. The company focuses on designing and manufacturing nano-porous silicon material for lithium-ion batteries. This silicon not only increases battery performance but also eliminates the common overheating issues in charging, making the process much safer. With its solar-silicon solutions, Emagy focuses on reducing manufacturing costs and promoting clean energy across industries and products. It claims to deliver 40% higher energy density across batteries. The solution finds large-scale applications across e-bikes, computers, handheld devices, medical devices, and electric energy storage systems.

8. Quatt

Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Generating heat and power can be expensive and environmentally challenging. Quatt is changing this with smart hybrid heat pumps. The company is developing AI-powered heating mechanisms that require lesser gas consumption power and promote the transition to fossil-free heating. Their first product is the Quatt Hybrid, designed to reduce energy expenses and enhance overall efficiency. It is a compact, all-electric heat pump operating under self-learning software. The product works with energy-efficient installations and shortens the heat generation chain, saving up to 80% of the gas bill compared to a central heating boiler.

9. BioBTX

Where: Groningen, Netherlands

We know plastic waste can harm the environment. But what if we use them to create high-value products? In line with this, BioBTX utilizes end-of-life plastic waste and biomass to create valuable chemicals like BTX (Benzene, Toluene, Xylene), via an integrated catalytic process. The BTX chemicals thus produced find several applications in high-performance polymers, pharmaceuticals, coatings, isolation materials, PET bottles etc. BioBTX is shifting the production focus to the more-sustainable BTX, reducing the need for fossil fuels, and thereby protecting the environment.

10. Triple Solar

Where: Amsterdam, North Holland

In the winter, homes can get freezing cold. At this time, you can’t do without centralized heaters to get some warmth in. Since most heating systems require gas and emit CO2, Triple Solar is taking a step to change the game. The company has introduced a PVT panel system to generate both heat and electricity using sunlight and outdoor heat. Unlike solar panels, that can only produce electricity, Triple Solar’s PVT systems also include a thermal exchanger for generating carbon-free heat throughout the year with optimal efficiency. The company aims to make everyday life environmentally sustainable with its sustainable heating solutions.

What to Expect

Innovative start-ups across industries are emerging both in Belgium and in the Netherlands. These companies are striking a balance between purpose and technology, promoting economic yet sustainable growth across the countries. The energy start-ups mentioned above are set to decarbonize the Earth and fast-track our journey towards Net Zero – the state where the Greenhouse gases emitted equals the amount removed. It will be exciting to see how the combined efforts of these start-ups, the government, and the general population takes us to a greener future.