Munich Startup: What does your startup do? What problem do you solve?
Reverion: Volatile renewable energies require technologies that balance the power grid and store energy. Biogas is already an essential part of the energy transition today and the only renewable energy source that can provide both secure baseload and control power for the fluctuating feed-in from wind and photovoltaics. However, today’s biogas plants are operated with gas engines that have very low efficiency (max. 40 percent), are not flexible, offer no storage capability, and emit several million tons of CO2 annually. Furthermore, these plants will not survive the current subsidy system.
Reverion was born to overcome these challenges. We have developed and patented the first all-in-one solution that:
- Converts biogas or hydrogen electrochemically into electricity and achieves 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 at an efficiency of 80 percent (power-to-gas).
- Captures pure, storable CO2 and thus enables cost-effective negative CO2 emissions for the first time.
This secures the future economic viability 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 makes an important contribution to a secure and independent energy supply.
Munich Startup: But that already exists!
Reverion: Unfortunately not! Previous fuel cell systems (which our technology is based on) cannot be switched due to their classical system design and do not utilize the full potential of fuel cells. Up to 30 percent of the fuel is not used for electricity generation, but simply burned. Of course, this costs considerable efficiency, and we have changed that with our new system design.
Development of 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 unlocking 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 moved our offices and production facilities to Eresing in Bavaria and expanded our team to more than 20 employees!
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Reverion: Our biggest challenges have been and currently still are hiring suitable employees (electricians, mechanics, etc.), as well as acquiring suppliers who can deliver on time in the current market situation.
“In 5 years we want to establish series production”
Munich Startup: Where do you want 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). In one year, we should have successfully developed and produced it and be working on the production of our first commercial units (100 kW).
Within 5 years, we want to establish and scale series production, as well as develop more powerful and more economical 500 kW units. In addition, we plan to introduce new business models and expand into new markets.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced the startup location Munich so far?
Reverion: As a spin-off from TUM, we founded our company in Munich. Munich is one of Europe’s largest and strongest startup ecosystems for deep tech. The proximity to the technical university and access to extensive resources such as incubators and accelerators have been and continue to be of immeasurable value.
Unfortunately, there was no suitable production facility in the Munich area for us. But we found a perfect location in Eresing. When choosing this location, we primarily focused on good transport links to Munich, because the proximity to Munich remains very important to us.
Munich Startup: Quick exit or long-term commitment?
Reverion: We recently completed our seed funding round and will begin preparations for Series A in the coming months. So we still have a lot of work to do to scale our technology and company. Our goal is to accelerate the path to an energy system with 100 percent renewable energy and thus create lasting significant global impact.
