Zigrid and the EIC Accelerator: Electricity From Lukewarm Heat

Zigrid, based in Nora, Sweden, builds power modules that turn low-grade waste heat, at temperatures between about 50°C and 90°C, into electricity: the heat expands a gas, which then cools and contracts, and the cyclical motion drives a generator through hydraulics rather than a turbine. It was selected in the EIC Accelerator's June 2023 cut-off, which the company described as an "EIC Innovation Grant first", and received an EU grant of €2.50 million for a €4.15 million project from March 2024 to August 2026 to upgrade its power module and take it to market, according to CORDIS and Zigrid.

The first report, to February 2025, says Zigrid moved to a stand-alone power module with more cylinders and an optimised drivetrain, reporting "efficiency gains exceeding 50%", extended the lower limit of its operating range from 60°C to 50°C and showed "net power production at only 40°C", according to the CORDIS reporting page. Because green hydrogen projects in Europe and the US were delayed, the planned pilot "will likely shift to an AI DataCenter". A July 2026 CORDIS article says data centres have become Zigrid's "most strategic segment" and that the focus "now is on certification, scaling up production capacity" and customer agreements, according to CORDIS.

Where Zigrid Stands Now

Zigrid's accounts show net sales of SEK 117,000 in 2025, its first, against SEK 13.2 million of other income, a net loss of SEK 0.85 million and cash of SEK 1.9 million at year end, according to Allabolag. Its balance sheet carries SEK 22.9 million of capitalised development. In September 2026 it attended Climate Week in New York to meet potential partners, according to its news page. No data-centre pilot, certification or customer contract has been announced.

The Technology: No Turbine Needed

Around 70% of the energy the world produces is lost as heat, the CORDIS article says, and recovering heat below 100°C is usually uneconomic. Zigrid's volumetric machine avoids turbines, which it says makes it more efficient at low temperatures and able to work down to 50°C. Its report says heat from liquid-cooled AI data centres suits the technology, which is why the company now targets them.

What the EIC Award Promised, and What the Record Shows

The award aimed to upgrade the power module, add IoT monitoring, demonstrate the system and certify it. Zigrid did the redesign and testing and connected its modules to an IoT platform. The demonstration shifted from hydrogen to data centres and has not been reported, and certification was still the priority when the project ended.

1. Upgraded power moduleDeliveredStand-alone design.
2. IoT platformDeliveredLive data streams.
3. System demonstrationUnverifiedPilot moved to data centres.
4. CertificationNot completeStill the focus in 2026.

The Money

The EU grant covered 60% of the project. Zigrid lost SEK 12.7 million over 2021 to 2025, financed largely by grants and capital injections. No EIC Fund investment or private funding round has been announced.

What Cannot Be Checked

Why Europe Should Care

Europe's industry and data centres throw away enormous amounts of warm water. A machine that turns it into electricity would cut energy costs and emissions. Zigrid has been working on the problem for more than a decade; its accounts show the market has not yet paid for it.

The Verdict

Zigrid and the EIC have not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on public records and published statements, linked throughout.