The SET100 List 2025
The 100 Most Promising Energy & Climate Tech Start-ups of 2025
Start Up Energy Transition [SET]
In 2016, the German Energy Agency (dena) identified a strong need to support impactful innovation aimed at accelerating the energy transition worldwide. With support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and industry partners, dena launched the SET platform to foster meaningful connections between corporate players, the public sector, and energy innovators. The goal is to rapidly scale clean energy technologies while increasing political will and public acceptance. In 2017, the World Energy Council joined dena as a cooperation partner to expand the reach and leverage of SET. SET continues to enable these connections with its unique position at the crossroads of the private and public sector. At its core, the SET platform is built on three pillars: The SET Award, SET Tech Festival and SET Newsroom.
What is the SET100 List?
The SET100 list is a compilation of the top 100 SET Award applications. The initiative was first launched in 2017 in collaboration with the World Energy Council with the aim of offering young companies a platform to showcase their forward-thinking solutions.
The Start Up Energy Transition Award is an international competition for start-ups and young companies worldwide working on impactful ideas affecting the global energy transition and climate change. Over the past nine years, the award has received more than 3,900 applications from over 100 countries.
100 Solutions for the Global Energy Transition
‘SET has a strong reputation, and being recognized alongside other impressive finalists, like Roam—a front-runner in Africa—strengthens our position, especially in building a long-term narrative for our company. Aligning with leading innovators is invaluable as we continue to grow and communicate our impact.’
William Berg, CEO of Cling System | SET Award 2024 Winner
The SET Award 2025 Finalists
Meet the SET Award 2025 finalists who will pitch at the SET Tech Festival 2025
Clean Energy & Storage
Power to Hydrogen
USA | Early Stage
P2H2 simplifies hydrogen with hybrid liquid alkaline/AEM electrolysis, cutting stack costs by ~65% and eliminating expensive metals like iridium and platinum. Producing hydrogen at 250 bar, P2H2 reduces compression and transport costs while integrating with renewable energy. Partnering with NASA, Enel, and Shell, P2H2’s technology addresses production and storage challenges, aiming to cut 2-3% of global CO2 emissions.
Botree Recycling Technologies
China | Early Stage
Botree advances lithium battery recycling with scalable solutions for pretreatment, hydrometallurgical recycling, and material regeneration. It also innovates in hydrogen fuel cell and solid-state battery recycling, shortens laterite nickel ore separation, and complies with global standards through a life cycle assessment system, supporting sustainable EV battery management.
Cowa Thermal Solutions AG
Switzerland | Early Stage
Cowa Thermal Solutions develops compact thermal storage systems using patented Phase Change Materials (PCMs) that are five times smaller than water-based alternatives. Targeting the growing European heat pump market, Cowa’s scalable technology enhances urban heat pump integration and renewable energy use. Successfully launched in Switzerland, Cowa aims to drive urban energy efficiency.
Industry
Cyclize GmbH
Germany | Seed Stage
Cyclize turns plastic waste and CO2 into drop-in syngas, a mix of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, using a patented plasma reactor to replace natural gas. By recycling carbon from mixed plastic waste unsuitable for other methods, Cyclize reduces plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. This innovative technology supports a circular economy, paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable, and resource-efficient chemical industry.
Variolytics GmbH
Germany | Early Stage
Founded in Stuttgart in 2020 as a Fraunhofer Institute spin-off, Variolytics is a high-tech start-up revolutionising the wastewater industry. Focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it provides hardware and software solutions that make the invisible measurable, enabling data-driven optimisation in treatment plants. With a team of 13, Variolytics combines cutting-edge technology and innovation to drive sustainability and impactful change.
Rosi
France | Mid Stage
ROSI transforms photovoltaic (PV) waste into high-value circular materials, including high-purity silicon, silver, copper, glass, and aluminium. Using advanced recycling technology, ROSI reduces reliance on virgin resources, supports decarbonisation in the solar industry, and reintegrates recycled materials into production. Through European partnerships, ROSI sets new standards for sustainability, PV waste management, and material recovery, driving a cleaner, resource-efficient future.
Buildings & Construction
Concular GmbH
Germany | Mid Stage
Concular is revolutionizing the construction industry by enabling the reuse and recycling of building materials at scale. Through its innovative software, Concular performs pre-demolition audits to identify reusable materials, increasing reuse rates from 1% to up to 80%. With over 450 buildings assessed and the creation of DIN SPEC 91484, a key industry standard in Germany, Concular is leading the shift toward a circular economy in construction, transforming waste into valuable resources while driving sustainability and cost savings.
Pionierkraft GmbH
Germany | Early Stage
PIONIERKRAFT is empowering small and medium-sized apartment buildings to adopt solar energy solutions through its patented technology. Since its 2019 launch, the company has sold over 1,000 units, enabling 200 solar projects that were previously unfeasible. Focused on cost reduction, the upcoming third-generation product will halve production and customer costs. By leveraging a B2B sales strategy through solar installers and housing providers, PIONIERKRAFT is helping decarbonize Germany’s housing sector, which accounts for 40% of its total housing stock.
Urbio SA
Switzerland | Seed Stage
Urbio accelerates the decarbonization of global buildings through its patentpending generative design software. The platform automates clean energy system designs for individual buildings and entire cities, reducing design times tenfold. By streamlining scattered data sources into cohesive workflows, Urbio enables energy providers and consultants to create efficient and customized solutions. Backed by a $2M pre-seed round and a 2024 seed round, Urbio is expanding its reach across Europe, driving global
energy transitions.
Mobility & Transportation
Nyobolt Ltd.
United Kingdom | Early Stage
Nyobolt is transforming mobility with its ultra-fast charging battery technology. By developing advanced materials, it enables compact designs, exceptional cycle life, and reduced environmental impact. Ideal for EVs, hybrids, and fuel cells, Nyobolt’s batteries downsize reliance on critical materials for sustainable performance. From personal cars to fleets, Nyobolt drives cleaner, high-performance electrification.
Basquevolt S.A.
Spain | Early Stage
Basquevolt develops polymer-based solid-state batteries to enable massmarket electrification. Safer and easier to produce than liquid electrolytes, their technology addresses energy density and cost challenges. With lightweight, affordable designs, Basquevolt advances sustainable solutions or applications struggling to electrify, driving a breakthrough in battery innovation for wider adoption.
Kazam EV Tech Pvt. Ltd.
India | Early Stage
Kazam unifies energy across vehicles, grids, and charge points with smart hardware and software. Its EV chargers enable real-time monitoring, grid optimization, and renewable integration, while fleet management software improves efficiency, cutting CO2 emissions. With 15,000+ chargers and partnerships like Mahindra, Kazam is advancing India’s electric mobility transition for a sustainable future.
Quality Energy Access & SDG-7
Koolboks
France | Mid Stage
Koolboks, based in Paris and focused on Africa, revolutionizes refrigeration with solar-powered, off-grid refrigerators featuring ice battery technology for 24/7 cooling. Affordable and accessible through a Pay-As-You-Go leaseto-own model, Koolboks also integrates USB charging to support SMEs by addressing cooling, lighting, and charging needs, fostering sustainable energy access.
RumiTech Energy
Türkiye | Seed Stage
RumiTech converts wind and solar into sustainable energy with its hybrid 5kW system, storing power in 2.4kW batteries for off-grid IoT-enabled solutions. Easily installable on poles in 2 hours without excavation, each unit reduces 10 tons of CO2 annually. Founded in 2023, RumiTech has raised $662,500, won awards, and delivers green energy IoT platforms for a sustainable future.
Instollar Technologies
Nigeria | Early Stage
Instollar bridges Africa’s energy gap and employment challenges with a platform matching green talent to energy projects. By training local workers and facilitating over 1,500 solar projects, Instollar empowers communities with clean power, creating 500+ jobs and onboarding 900 installers. Instollar drives sustainable, inclusive energy solutions and economic growth across the continent.
More than 350+ Applications from 68 Countries
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