Munich Startup: What does your startup do? What problem do you solve?
Reverion: Volatile renewable energies require technologies that can balance the power grid and store energy. Biogas is already an essential component of the energy transition and the only renewable energy source that can provide both secure base load and balancing energy for the fluctuating feed-in from wind and photovoltaics. However, today's biogas plants are powered by gas engines that have very low efficiency (max. 40 percent), are inflexible, offer no storage options, and emit several million tons of CO2 annually. Furthermore, these plants will not survive under the current subsidy system.
Reverion was born to overcome these challenges. We have developed and patented the first all-in-one solution that:
- Biogas or hydrogen is electrochemically converted into electricity, achieving an efficiency of 80 percent (twice as high as the efficiency of conventional solutions).
- Has a reversible operating mode and can also produce green hydrogen or synthetic natural gas from electricity, also with an efficiency of 80 percent (power-to-gas).
- Captures pure, storable CO2, thus enabling cost-effective, negative CO2 emissions for the first time.
This ensures the future profitability of existing biogas plants, contributes to stabilizing the energy system, brings flexibility to the market, and enables long-term energy storage. Especially now, in the current European energy crisis, our technology is making an important contribution to a secure and independent energy supply.
Munich Startup: But that's been around for a long time!
ReverionUnfortunately not! Due to their traditional system design, existing fuel cell systems (on which our technology is based) are not switchable and do not utilize the full potential of fuel cells. Up to 30 percent of the fuel is not used to generate electricity, but is simply burned. This, of course, significantly reduces efficiency, and we have changed that with our new system design.
Development of the Reverion technology at TUM
Munich Startup: What is your founding story?
Reverion: Our journey began in 2015 with a groundbreaking vision: to pave the way to 100 percent renewable energy by harnessing the full potential of biogas. Over the years, we developed and patented our novel high-temperature fuel cell system at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). After our prototype proved successful, Reverion was founded in 2022 to commercialize this technology.
The founding team consists of Stephan Herrmann (CEO & Managing Director), Felix Fischer (COO & Managing Director), Maximilian Hauck (CTO), Jeremias Weinrich (CPO), and Luis Poblotzki (CDO). Together, we bring more than 25 years of experience in research and development of energy systems at TUM. Since May, we have relocated our offices and production facilities to Eresing, Bavaria, and expanded our team to more than 20 employees!
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Reverion: Our biggest challenges were and still are the recruitment of suitable workers (electricians, mechanics, etc.) and the acquisition of suppliers who can deliver on time in the current market situation.
“In 5 years we want to establish series production”
Munich Startup: Where would you like to be in one year, where in five years?
Reverion: Our next major milestone is the successful development of our first pre-commercial unit (pilot plant). Within a year, we should have successfully developed and produced this, and be working on the production of our first commercial units (100 kW).
Within five years, we aim to establish and scale up series production, as well as develop more powerful and economical 500 kW units. We also plan to introduce new business models and expand into new markets.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup location so far?
Reverion: As a spin-off from TUM, we founded our company in Munich. Munich is one of the largest and strongest deep tech startup ecosystems in Europe. The proximity to the technical university and access to extensive resources such as incubators and accelerators have been and continue to be invaluable.
Unfortunately, there were no suitable production facilities in the Munich area. However, we found a perfect location in Eresing. When choosing this location, we paid particular attention to good transport links to Munich, as proximity to Munich remains very important to us.
Munich Startup: Quick exit or long breath?
Reverion: We recently launched our Seed financing round completed and will begin preparing for Series A in the coming months. We still have a lot of work to do to scale our technology and our company. Our goal is to accelerate the path to a 100 percent renewable energy system in order to make a significant global impact in the long term.
