South Korean startup Gigaette, specializing in thermal energy storage, has raised approximately USD 650K(KRW 900 million) in a seed funding round. The round was led by Shinhan Venture Investment, with participation from Bluepoint Partners, Daejeon Center for Creative Economy & Innovation–Gravity Ventures, and Star Ventures.

Gigaette is commercializing its Isothermal Thermal Battery (ITP Battery), a KAIST-based technology that converts and stores high-temperature waste heat or curtailed renewable energy in the form of heat. This solution addresses the limitations of electricity-centric energy storage systems and extends application to the industrial thermal energy sector.

Unlike lithium-ion batteries, the ITP Battery can stably store high-temperature heat (hundreds of degrees Celsius) for extended periods. It can be applied in a wide range of areas, including industrial process heat supply, waste heat recovery-based cooling, renewable energy–linked district heating, power generation steam supply, and surplus heat storage in SMRs (Small Modular Reactors).

With more than half of global industrial energy consumption in the form of heat, the technology is regarded as a key solution to expand carbon reduction efforts beyond electricity-centered policies into industrial heat sectors.

Minsoo Song, Principal at Bluepoint Partners, noted, “This technology has the potential to extend eco-friendly policies into the thermal energy sector, achieving greater decarbonization impact. Through this investment, Korea has an opportunity to lead the global low-carbon thermal energy transition market.”

With the new funding, Gigaette plans to accelerate domestic and international proof-of-concept (PoC) projects. Current initiatives include a waste heat cooling demonstration in Korea’s manufacturing industry, a district heating decarbonization project in Mongolia, and an energy-saving grain drying project in Australia.

Daejun Jang, CEO of Gigaette, stated, “This investment will enable us to expand demonstration projects and collaborate with domestic and global partners to lead thermal energy innovation. As a ‘K-Thermal Battery,’ we will set new standards for global decarbonization.”