Sponge-Like solid could replace leaky fridge refrigerants. October 27, 2026 A porous solid-based cooling technology could reduce energy consumption and refrigerant emissions, with commercial deployments planned for beverage coolers. US-based startup Pascal is developing a cooling technology that uses a porous, sponge-like solid and carbon dioxide to transfer heat, potentially offering an alternative to conventional refrigeration systems. The company claims that its technology can improve energy efficiency by about 20 per cent compared with existing refrigerators and heat pumps. On 21 October 2026, Pascal announced US$9.3 million in additional funding to support early commercial deployments with a multinational beverage manufacturer, beginning with beverage coolers. Founded in 2023 by Adam Slavney and Jinyoung Seo, Pascal is developing the technology for applications ranging from beverage refrigeration to commercial air conditioning, industrial cooling and data centres. The funding comprises US$839,000 in grants and incentives, bringing the company's total funding to US$17.3 million. Conventional refrigerators and air conditioners generally use vapour-compression systems, in which a circulating refrigerant absorbs heat from one location and releases it elsewhere. Pascal's approach uses a pressure-responsive solid material to perform the cooling process, with carbon dioxide acting as the working gas. The company aims to reduce dependence on conventional refrigerants that can contribute to global warming when released into the atmosphere. The system uses cartridges containing a porous solid. When carbon dioxide enters the material under pressure, the solid heats up, allowing a heat exchanger to remove the heat. When the pressure is reduced and the gas is released, the material cools and absorbs heat from the refrigerated space. Two cartridges operate alternately, allowing one to release heat while the other provides cooling. Pascal says its technology can operate at pressures used in conventional refrigeration and can use standard industrial components. The company also describes its solid refrigerant materials as non-flammable and says they can eliminate direct emissions associated with conventional refrigerants. However, the system still uses carbon dioxide gas, and its overall environmental performance depends on the containment design, operating efficiency and potential for gas leakage. Pascal claims that its technology offers approximately 20 per cent better energy efficiency than existing refrigerators and heat pumps. This remains a company claim rather than an independently established improvement across commercial applications. The actual benefits will depend on the equipment design, cooling requirements and operating conditions. The company has also reported that its material has undergone up to 300,000 cycles, which co-founder Adam Slavney has described as roughly a year of operation. However, laboratory cycling results do not establish the service life of a complete refrigeration system. Long-term reliability will depend on operating conditions, cycle frequency and the durability of other system components. Pascal reports having built four fully functional cooling systems, with further development under way. Its immediate priority is to demonstrate the technology in beverage coolers before expanding into other applications. An initial prototype was expected in early 2027, with more advanced refrigerator units planned for 2028. These are planned milestones, and the technology is not yet widely commercially available. For India, alternative cooling technologies could become increasingly important as demand for refrigeration and air conditioning grows. Household refrigerators commonly use isobutane (R-600a), while room air conditioners may use refrigerants such as R-32 or R-410A, depending on the model. These refrigerants have different environmental characteristics, making refrigerant selection, leakage prevention and energy efficiency important considerations. India's Cooling Action Plan, released in 2019, established targets for reducing cooling demand by 20-25 per cent, refrigerant demand by 25-30 per cent, and cooling energy requirements by 25-40 per cent by 2037-38. India is also scheduled to freeze hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) production and consumption at the applicable baseline level from 2028 under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, followed by a phasedown. Technologies that reduce electricity consumption or dependence on refrigerants with high global warming potential could therefore contribute to India's longer-term cooling objectives. Pascal's technology could support these goals if independent testing confirms its efficiency claims and the complete system demonstrates reliable operation with a low environmental impact. Its commercial viability will depend on manufacturing costs, cooling capacity, maintenance requirements, durability and performance under different climatic conditions. Pascal has not announced an Indian launch, local pricing or product availability. The planned beverage-cooler deployments will provide an early opportunity to evaluate the technology in commercial use and determine whether it can progress towards wider refrigeration and cooling applications. Ananthu Ashok is a tech journalist and has a deep interest in embedded systems, open source, IoT, robotics and emerging tech.

Pascal raises $8.5 million in additional funding. S SuperbCrew is a trusted resource for discovering innovative companies, emerging startups, and the latest technology trends. The $17.3 million total from the round co-led by Sazze Partners and LB Investment will enable Pascal to deploy its first solid-refrigerant systems in commercial applications with a large beverage company. Pascal has recently raised an additional $8.5 million in venture funding. The Watertown, Massachusetts based firm is working on solid refrigerant technology for next generation cooling systems. Sazze Partners and LB Investment were the co-leaders of the investment, while KDB Silicon Valley participated. In addition to the equity, Pascal also received $839,000 in grants. That's in addition to a $500,000 award from the U.S. Department of Energy's ARPA-E program and $239,000 from InnovateMass and $100,000 from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center's Climatetech Tax Incentives Program. The total amount of capital raised is now $17.3 million. The new funding round comes on the heels of an $8 million seed round in May 2024 which was led by Engine Ventures with contributions from Khosla Ventures and Blindspot Ventures. The previous increase was for a larger commercial demonstration unit to replace the small proof of concept system. The new money comes as the firm moves away from laboratory validation into the real world. Pascal has built a prototype of its pilot refrigerator.Pascal has built a working prototype of its pilot refrigerator. It is readying to roll out the system to a multinational beverage manufacturer. The company plans to deploy the first one to prove the energy efficiency and cost benefits, with the next phase of the project scheduled for early 2027. There are already four fully functional solid-refrigerant cooling systems in place and more are being developed. The technology uses solid materials that expand and contract with pressure instead of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) gases. These solids can be used in the same pressure range as conventional refrigerants. They do not contain PFAS, are non flammable and non toxic. The systems can be built using many common industrial parts which helps maintain cost competitiveness with existing vapor compression systems. The company has demonstrated solid-refrigerant systems can be as efficient as conventional vapor compression systems doing the same work, and there is potential for even greater efficiency, CEO and Co-founder Adam Slavney said. The team is aiming for about 20 percent higher efficiency than existing models. Early cycling tests have reached a total of 300,000 cycles, which is the equivalent of about a year of continuous cycling. The new capital will be used for the beverage pilot and to further develop the technology for industrial applications. Longer term applications will be chilled water systems for commercial buildings, industrial cooling and data centers. With the temperature rising, electricity consumption is expected to surge in data centers, driven by the growth of AI workloads, and as a result, global cooling demand is projected to grow significantly.As temperatures rise, the demand for cooling in data centers, where electricity use is anticipated to accelerate due to the growth of AI workloads, is expected to increase significantly. New investors come with strategic connections to Korea's manufacturing hub. Both LB Investment and Sazze Partners noted that Pascal's commercialization route matched Korea's advanced production capabilities. Current investors Engine Ventures, Khosla Ventures and Blindspot Ventures are still holding their stakes. The company opened a 21,000-sq.-ft. headquarters in Watertown in September to increase the company's engineering, prototyping and testing capabilities. The same month, the company's co-founder and CTO, Jinyoung Seo, was included in MIT Technology Review's 2026 Innovators Under 35 list. One of the few U.S. companies in the business of developing solid refrigerants on a commercial scale is Pascal. The method is not the usual HFC method and is different from other solid state methods which may need higher pressures. The company's efforts to reduce barriers to adoption and direct emissions of the refrigerant are intended to be achieved by maintaining standard pressure ranges and using off the shelf components. The beverage deployment will give the first clear commercial data. If this is successful, it could lead to a bigger refrigeration and HVAC market for the company seeking to lower operating costs and climate impact. Please email SuperbCrew your feedback and news tips at hello(at)superbcrew.com