Technology showcase · Converting waste heat into useful energy
CIXTEN
Conversion of low-temperature waste heat into useful energy.
Active member since April 2023
Understand the technology
Key fact Recovers heat from 60°C
01 — Understand
CIXTEN technology, in three points
Using waste-heat sources and CO₂, CIXTEN’s technology produces electricity or compressed air. Residual heat not converted by the machine can also feed a district heating network. Useful energy is generated through a controlled thermodynamic cycle using pressurised CO₂ in a closed loop.
01 The solution
Conversion of low-temperature waste heat into useful energy.
02 Technology principle
A closed supercritical-CO₂ loop turns waste heat into electricity, compressed air or mechanical energy.
03 Applications
- Power generation
- Compressed air
- Mechanical energy
- District heating
CIXTEN is a deeptech and greentech start-up developing a modular thermal machine that converts heat from 60°C into electricity, compressed gas or mechanical energy. Based on a supercritical-CO₂ energy loop, its technology adapts to intermittent supply and variations in source temperature. The machine architecture is designed both to optimise heat transfer and to scale with the size of the heat resource through standardised components.
Acting as a heat exchanger between a cold source and a heat resource, the system can also deliver its remaining heat to a district heating network in a cogeneration configuration.
CO₂ as an engine for decarbonisation
CIXTEN develops a modular thermal machine that recycles waste heat from 60°C.
Protected by two patents, the technology uses the exceptional thermophysical properties of supercritical CO₂ to reduce the carbon footprint of industrial processes. A specific cellular architecture enables highly efficient heat transfer across small temperature differences. Useful energy is produced by a controlled thermodynamic cycle using pressurised CO₂ in a closed circuit.
The start-up’s development has received several awards and distinctions:
- Winner of ADEME’s IBaC call for projects;
- Winner of France’s 2022 i-LAB innovation competition;
- Bpifrance Deeptech label;
- EDF Pulse Grand Est award in the Ecology category;
- FILXEX Energy Efficiency Trophy with the Materalia competitiveness cluster;
- Selected for the Evolen’Up start-up accelerator.
