Data Centers Emerge as Launch Market for Barocaloric Cooling

Cambridge spin-out Barocal, backed by a $1 million TERA-Award, is targeting data centers as its initial commercial market for barocaloric cooling—solid-state technology that uses plastic crystals and mechanical pressure instead of fluorinated gases. Data center operators, motivated by operational cost reduction and equipped with technical expertise and capital, represent the fastest path to deployment. The technology promises 2–3 times better energy efficiency than conventional refrigerants.