Alternō secures $1mn A1 investment to scale sand battery technology for zero-emission heat

The round was led by UntroD Capital Asia, with strategic backing from Antler, one of Alternō's earliest and largest institutional investors, the company said in a press release on Tuesday.

The Asian Development Bank Ventures (ADB) also joined the round, signaling growing global investor confidence in scalable decarbonization solutions.

 Alternō's thermal energy storage technology is transforming how industrial heat is generated and consumed across Vietnam and Asia.

The company's patented sand battery system uses locally available, low-cost materials like sand to store heat at up to 600°C, with minimal thermal loss and zero emissions during operation – empowering the global carbon neutrality goals.

This new investment will enable Alternō to scale up its manufacturing operations and accelerate the development of Alternō E, the company's next-generation product capable of storing and delivering both heat and electricity from a modular, integrated platform.

Founded in 2023, Alternō is addressing Southeast Asia's fast-growing demand for clean, stable, and cost-effective thermal energy.

Beginning with industrial drying and agro-processing facilities in Vietnam, the sand battery has proven effective in reducing fossil fuel dependence, lowering energy costs, and improving output consistency and product quality.

To date, Alternō has deployed systems for major domestic and international clients – including PepsiCo, Mondelez, and a wide network of companies and cooperatives across Vietnam.

The company has now started to expand into international markets, with Japan and the Philippines being the beachhead market.

"This funding marks a pivotal milestone for Alternō, said Co-Founder & CEO Hai Ho.

"With the support of ADB and UntroD, we're accelerating our efforts to bring large-scale, cost-effective decarbonization to industrial sectors.

"This isn't just another battery – it's a revolution in how we generate and use industrial heat, starting from something as simple as sand."

Next-generation product lineup

With this funding, Alternō is expanding its portfolio of energy storage solutions designed to serve both factory and community-scale applications:

Alternō One – A compact thermal battery delivering clean heat to off-grid homes and remote communities. Successfully piloted in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam, the solution is now preparing for deployment in Mongolia to address extreme winter air pollution.

Alternō Hybrid – The world's first modular thermal battery integrating both electric and biomass heating. It provides 24/7 heat for rural agro-processing and repurposes organic waste into energy. This product promises to transform agricultural drying practices for farmers across Vietnam.

Alternō E – An advanced electricity storage solution engineered to tackle critical industry challenges in safety, reliability, and cost. Positioned as a transformative force, the Alternō E aims to reshape how clean energy is stored and deployed across global markets.

All systems are IoT-connected, AI-optimized, and remotely monitored by Alternō's R&D team.

Regional expansion, flexible business models

Alternō is currently expanding into a new industrial sector every two months, with commercial projects underway in Southeast Asia and Japan.

To ease access to the technology, the company offers flexible financial models, including monthly leasing and Heat-as-a-Service (HaaS), allowing clients to decarbonize without large upfront investments.

From 1.8 MWh container-size systems for food manufacturers to clean heating solutions for remote communities, Alternō is delivering thermal energy where it is most needed and often hardest to reach.

Accelerating global recognition, strategic growth

Alternō's technology and momentum have earned global recognition, including winning the 2024 PepsiCo Greenhouse Accelerator for Asia-Pacific and placing in the Top 2 globally at the Startup World Cup.

These achievements reflect not just technological excellence but Alternō's ability to deliver scalable, real-world solutions to urgent decarbonization challenges.

By 2030, Alternō aims to help eliminate 100 million tons of CO₂ per year. Its long-term vision is to become a fully integrated clean energy platform – bringing heat, electricity, and AI-powered energy management into a unified, intelligent, and affordable solution.

The company is actively pursuing expansion in Japan, Qatar, and the UAE, and is currently in co-development discussions with global players including Honda and Marubeni.