Metal foam cuts data centre energy use

This startup’s solution could transform the cooling of data centres

Spotted: As the world becomes increasingly digital and the AI boom accelerates, data centre demand is on the up, which brings its own environmental challenges. Data centres consume between 1 and 3 per cent of the world’s electricity today, with nearly half of this demand coming from cooling. The share of emissions from data centres is further expected to increase to 6 per cent by 2030, during which time emissions must be halved to achieve international decarbonisation targets. The deployment of more efficient cooling solutions is therefore crucial. Enter Apheros, a Swiss deep-tech startup that has pioneered a new approach by inventing an advanced metal foam material.

Founded in 2023 as a spin-off from ETH Zurich, Apheros has developed a unique, patented process that outputs metal foams with a surface area 1,000 times larger than commercially available alternatives. These foams also have a completely open porous structure that optimises the flow of a surrounding cooling liquid. Coupled together, these features lead to significantly enhanced heat transfer in liquid cooling systems, which are rapidly gaining traction in the industry as a more efficient solution than traditional air cooling methods. 

In addition to the superior thermal performance of Apheros’ metal foam, the manufacturing process is designed with scalability in mind, which should enable widespread adoption in data centres. As CTO and Co-Founder of Apheros, Dr. Gaëlle Andreatta, told Springwise, “we aim to reduce data server energy consumption, improve cooling efficiency, and contribute to a more sustainable future.” She wnet on to explain that there may be even further use cases as the Apheros “process is materials-agnostic. That means it allows us to produce a wide range of materials including alloys… Applications range from cooling to catalysis, energy storage and filtration.”

With a female-led team brimming with commercialisation and tech transfer expertise, Apheros champions diversity of thought and perspective as “essential for driving innovation and creating a more sustainable future.” 

Currently, the company is in the early stages of commercialisation, having secured $1.85 million in pre-seed funding to accelerate development and deployment of their technology. The funding round was led by venture capital firm Founderful, and initial activity is focused on the thermal management market. As Apheros scales its production and validates its technology in real-world systems, the startup looks poised to be a key player for energy efficient data centres.

Written By: Oscar Williams