ECONOTHERM (UK) LIMITED

Their core work

Econotherm is a UK-based SME specializing in industrial heat recovery technologies, particularly heat pipe-based systems for capturing and reusing waste thermal energy from manufacturing and industrial processes. They design and develop heat exchangers, condensing economisers, and thermal storage solutions that help energy-intensive industries reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Their work spans multiple industrial sectors — from aluminium smelting to ceramic tile manufacturing — always focused on extracting usable energy from exhaust gases and process waste heat.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Econotherm's early H2020 work (2015-2018) concentrated squarely on thermal energy — heat pipes, condensing economisers, waste-heat-to-power conversion using advanced thermodynamic cycles (trilateral flush, supercritical CO2), and heat storage with molten salt. From 2019 onward, their scope broadened: the DREAM project brought them into ceramic manufacturing energy efficiency, and iWAYS (their largest funded project) moved into integrated water-material-energy recovery. The trajectory shows a company expanding from pure heat recovery hardware toward broader industrial resource efficiency and circular economy applications.

Econotherm is moving from standalone heat recovery components toward integrated resource efficiency solutions that combine thermal, water, and material recovery — positioning them for circular economy and industrial decarbonisation projects.

How they like to work

Econotherm operates exclusively as a participant, never as coordinator, which is typical for a technology SME contributing specialist hardware and know-how to larger consortia. With 52 unique partners across 13 countries in just 5 projects, they consistently join large, multi-national consortia — averaging over 10 partners per project. This pattern suggests they are sought after as a reliable technology provider rather than a project initiator, making them a low-friction partner to integrate into new proposals.

Econotherm has built a broad European network of 52 partners across 13 countries through 5 projects, giving them connections across academia, research institutes, and industry in the energy and manufacturing sectors. Their network is notably wide for a small company, reflecting the large Innovation Action consortia they typically join.

What sets them apart

Econotherm brings deep, specialized expertise in heat pipe technology — a niche but critical component for industrial energy recovery — that few SMEs can match across so many industrial applications. Their track record spans aluminium smelting, ceramic manufacturing, and water-intensive processes, demonstrating the versatility of their core technology. For consortium builders, they offer a proven UK-based technology partner with hands-on engineering capability and a strong history of delivering within large EU projects.

Highlights from their portfolio

• iWAYS
  Their largest project by funding (EUR 743,802), marking a strategic expansion from heat-only recovery into integrated water and material recycling — a significant capability broadening.
• I-ThERM
  Explored advanced waste-heat-to-power cycles (trilateral flush, supercritical CO2) alongside flat heat pipes and condensing economisers — showcasing the full range of their thermal technology expertise.
• DREAM
  Applied their heat pipe technology to a specific manufacturing sector (ceramic kilns), demonstrating cross-sector adaptability beyond their traditional energy focus.