Unused energy sources lie dormant under car parks, tunnels and storage rooms. The startup Enerdrape from Renens has developed a world first: panels that convert waste heat and geothermal energy into sustainable heating and cooling energy. The company, which is based in the canton of Vaud, won the Sustainability Challenge 2024 for this idea.
Together with companies like AMAG, we can transform underground car parks into something greener and more sustainable.
Although geothermal energy might sound like it involves deep drilling, huge machines and high costs, it does not have to be like that: the startup Enerdrape from French-speaking Switzerland has developed a technology that harnesses thermal energy from near-surface geothermal energy and waste heat in underground spaces such as car parks and tunnels. Instead of large boreholes and direct contact with the ground, the panels can simply be attached to the walls or ceilings.
«There is a huge source of energy right under our feet that remains largely untapped», says Margaux Peltier, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Enerdrape. The idea seems obvious, but it is a world first and could become a valuable resource for companies like AMAG in their efforts to make mobility more sustainable. «In the search for innovation, people tend to look to the stars or wherever else. But every now and then, it’s also worth looking down», adds the 30-year-old with a smile.
Rethinking energy supply in cities
The graduate of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne knew early on that she wanted to combine sustainability with technology. «Originally, we were thinking about a product for new buildings. But we quickly realised that we needed solutions for existing buildings if we wanted to make a real impact.»
Today, Margaux Peltier and her team of six are working to market their solution to a wider audience. Their goal is to establish Enerdrape as a leading company in the field of sustainable energy use – and to make not only buildings but also urban infrastructure such as underground car parks more sustainable. «We see a future where mobility infrastructure not only shapes how our cities look but also their energy supply».
Making underground car parks greener
The figures speak for themselves: one square metre of the panels developed by Enerdrape provides enough energy to heat or cool around ten square metres of a building. Enerdrape can therefore turn underground spaces into sustainable energy sources that can be used locally – an approach that not only lowers operating costs but also significantly reduces carbon emissions. These facts also impressed the judges of the AMAG Sustainability Challenge 2024. «Of course, it’s great to be recognised», says Margaux Peltier in reference to the award. «It also highlights the enormous potential for synergies in the mobility sector. Together with companies like AMAG, we can transform underground car parks into something greener and more sustainable».
Common goals
Sustainability connects Enerdrape and the AMAG Group on several levels. «I’m impressed with AMAG’s commitment to decarbonising mobility», says Margaux Peltier. «The company’s vision is ambitious and they have a clear strategy. And by supporting startups like ours, AMAG is making an important contribution to a more sustainable future».
One concrete example of the values shared by the two companies is their commitment to a circular economy. Enerdrape purposefully uses aluminium to produce its panels because this material is easy to recycle. «We want to make decisions today that are sustainable in the long term. This applies not only to how our technology is used, but also to how it is produced», explains startup founder Peltier.
Enough space for good ideas
By winning the AMAG Sustainability Challenge, Enerdrape not only received recognition, but also financial support totalling CHF 50,000. Part of the prize money went directly towards developing the technology further, and the rest towards marketing. «Launching a product on the market is always challenging, and even more so when it’s something innovative that didn’t exist before», says Margaux Peltier.
Over the past two years, Enerdrape has already installed panels in Switzerland, France, Spain and the USA. But for the managing director, this is only the beginning. «Now it’s about reaching more people, acquiring new customers, installing more panels and making a bigger impact». In other words, Enerdrape intends to keep growing and driving innovation. Margaux Peltier believes «There’s still plenty of room for good ideas. And sometimes the best ones are right in front of – or even under – our feet».
The AMAG Sustainability Challenge was launched in 2024 to promote innovative Swiss startups that are helping to decarbonise the mobility industry and make it more sustainable. The competition is aimed at companies with solutions in areas such as cleantech, energy efficiency and digitalisation. The winner, Enerdrape, received CHF 50,000 in prize money and an electric car to use for a year. They also have the opportunity to start a business partnership with the AMAG Group and secure investment through the AMAG Climate Fund.
Second place in the AMAG Sustainability Challenge 2024 went to 8inks – a startup that is developing the next generation of high-performance, resource-saving lithium-ion batteries. Third place went to Exnaton, which develops billing solutions for decentralised energy communities. Both companies were rewarded with tickets to the Swiss Economic Forum 2025, giving them the opportunity to network with leading figures in the Swiss economy.
