The ZHAW spin-off Borobotics is revolutionizing the drilling process for ground-coupled heat pumps with its self-developed drilling robot. In the future, this will make geothermal drilling possible in places where previous technologies take up too much space and are too expensive. For this purpose, the company was funded by the Venture Kick initiative with CHF 150,000 for test drilling.
Geothermal energy is playing an increasingly important role in future heat supply. However, conventional technologies so far come with disadvantages: energy intensity, high cost, inaccuracy, noise pollution, landscape destruction and large space requirements. Therefore, near-surface geothermal energy is not used everywhere. At the same time, the great demand for geothermal energy cannot be met because there is neither enough drilling equipment nor skilled personnel to operate it. The ZHAW spin-off Borobotics is therefore currently developing an autonomous and energy-efficient solution: a drilling robot that, together with the additional equipment, requires up to 90 percent less space than previous solutions while significantly reducing costs, noise pollution and CO2 emissions from drilling. Due to the compactness of the system, drilling can now be realized in places where there was not enough space before. Drilling contractors do not have to buy the robots - revenue is generated through a service model in which drilling contractors pay per meter drilled.
Support with finances and know-how
With this concept, Borobotics has convinced the Venture Kick initiative and will now be supported with a total of CHF 150,000. For this purpose, the start-up was accompanied by Venture Kick for several months. Thanks to this investment, Borobotics will be able to work on a working prototype to be unveiled in 2024. "We were very pleased with our experience with Venture Kick. The program has proven to be very helpful, not only in terms of providing funding, but especially in terms of the inputs we received during the Kickers Camp sessions," says Moritz Pill, CFO and co-founder of Borobotics. "The program was well structured and organized: Whenever something was unclear or we needed further advice, we were helped very quickly."
Test sites wanted
Borobotics plans to use the cash injection for drilling tests of the robot. To this end, the start-up is currently looking for test sites to drill boreholes first at depths of 20 and 50 meters and later at depths of up to 200 meters. Ideally, the test sites are accessible by car and have electricity and water connections. Hans-Jörg Dennig, CEO and co-founder, explains: "The aim of the test drilling is to check the individual components of the drilling robot for reliability and functionality, especially in different subsoils."
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