Phononic

Phononic Inc. is a leader in solid-state cooling technology, based in Durham, North Carolina, and founded in 2008. The company specialises in the development of energy-efficient, sustainable cooling solutions that eliminate the need for traditional refrigerants, compressors, and fans. Phononic’s technology is based on thermoelectrics, which allow for cooling and heating without the environmental impact of conventional methods.

Phononic’s solid-state cooling technology is used across a variety of industries, including data centres, healthcare, retail, and cold chain logistics. Their platform offers scalable cooling solutions for any size or application, providing a more efficient and quieter alternative to traditional cooling systems. Notably, Phononic's products are already deployed in major data centres, helping companies reduce energy consumption and operational costs.
 

In healthcare, Phononic’s cooling systems are used to preserve temperature-sensitive drugs and vaccines, while in the cold chain, they help manage the transportation and storage of perishable goods. The company's innovations also extend to optoelectronics, where their technology is used to cool high-speed optical components, such as LiDAR sensors and fibre optic transceivers, enabling advancements in telecommunications and automotive safety.
 

Phononic is committed to sustainability, with its systems designed to be non-toxic, non-flammable, and free from harmful refrigerants. The company has earned recognition for its contributions to sustainable cooling, with products that meet ENERGY STAR® standards. In addition to these advancements, Phononic’s technology is setting the standard for HVAC systems, offering a modular solution that eliminates the need for refrigerants and helps buildings achieve net-zero energy consumption.

Phononic Inc. was founded in 2008 in Durham, North Carolina, to develop innovative cooling solutions. The company was established with a vision to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional refrigeration and cooling systems. At the time of its founding, cooling technologies predominantly relied on compressors, fans, and toxic refrigerants, which had significant environmental impacts. Phononic sought to revolutionise this space by using thermoelectric materials, which allow for cooling and heating without the need for these harmful components.

In its early years, Phononic focused on perfecting its solid-state cooling technology. The company developed a proprietary system based on thermoelectric devices, which use electricity to move heat without any moving parts. This technology enabled Phononic to create cooling solutions that were more efficient, quieter, and environmentally friendly compared to traditional systems. The company’s breakthrough in solid-state cooling quickly attracted attention, especially from industries requiring high-performance, low-noise, and energy-efficient solutions.
 

By the mid-2010s, Phononic’s technology had gained traction in several sectors. The company began applying its cooling solutions in industries such as data centres, healthcare, and cold chain logistics. In data centres, Phononic's cooling technology helped reduce energy consumption, a key concern in the rapidly growing digital infrastructure sector. The company’s cooling devices also began to play a critical role in preserving temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals and vaccines in healthcare, ensuring their safe transport and storage.
 

In the late 2010s, Phononic further expanded its product range, including solutions for optoelectronics. The company developed high-performance thermoelectric coolers (TECs) that were used to cool fibre optics components, which are essential for high-speed data transmission in telecommunications. The company’s work with LiDAR sensors, crucial for automotive safety, also gained recognition during this period. These innovations positioned Phononic as a leader in the emerging market of solid-state thermal management.
 

Phononic’s commitment to sustainability became a defining feature of its products. In addition to reducing the environmental impact of traditional refrigerants, the company’s solutions use up to 30% less power compared to conventional systems, making them not only more sustainable but also cost-effective. By 2020, Phononic had introduced the world’s first ENERGY STAR® certified solid-state refrigerator, a milestone that further demonstrated the efficiency and reliability of its technology.
 

In recent years, Phononic has continued to advance its solid-state cooling solutions. The company’s technology is now a critical component in data centre infrastructure, with over 25 million TECs deployed across North America. The company has also expanded its reach in the cold chain sector, where it helps optimise the storage and transport of perishable goods in e-grocery retail, pharmaceuticals, and other industries.
 

Phononic’s innovation in HVAC systems has set a new standard in sustainable heating and cooling. Their TTAP (Terminal Treatment of Air with Peltier) platform offers a net-zero, all-electric solution for commercial buildings, further cementing the company’s role in advancing energy-efficient technology. This solution eliminates the need for refrigerants, reducing environmental harm and offering lower operational costs for building owners.
 

Today, Phononic is recognised as a global leader in solid-state cooling, with its technology deployed across a wide range of industries. The company’s products are used by major US hyperscalers, and its solutions continue to play a vital role in supporting the growth of data infrastructure, reducing carbon emissions, and driving the development of sustainable cold chain systems. As of now, Phononic remains focused on expanding its portfolio of energy-efficient solutions, helping industries transition to more sustainable and cost-effective thermal management practices.

Phononic’s mission is to revolutionise cooling and heating technology by providing sustainable, energy-efficient solutions. The company aims to replace traditional cooling methods, which rely on harmful refrigerants and bulky systems, with its solid-state technology. Phononic strives to meet the growing demand for efficient thermal management across various industries, including data centres, healthcare, and cold chain logistics. By focusing on sustainability, performance, and cost-effectiveness, Phononic seeks to deliver innovative solutions that reduce energy consumption, enhance system reliability, and support a greener, more sustainable future.

Phononic envisions a future where cooling and heating are no longer harmful to the environment. The company aims to be at the forefront of sustainable thermal management by providing solutions that eliminate the need for toxic refrigerants, compressors, and fans. Phononic seeks to transform industries by offering cutting-edge solid-state cooling technology that is energy-efficient, reliable, and scalable. Their goal is to create a world where efficient, quiet, and environmentally friendly cooling and heating systems are the norm, enabling industries to reduce their carbon footprint and meet the growing demands for energy efficiency and sustainability.

Phononic offers a range of innovative products and services focused on sustainable, energy-efficient cooling and heating solutions. Their core technology is based on solid-state thermoelectrics, which allow for heat pumping without the need for harmful refrigerants or noisy, bulky compressors and fans. This technology is not only environmentally friendly but also highly efficient, reducing energy consumption and operational costs across a variety of industries.
 

Solid-State Cooling Solutions

Phononic’s flagship product is its solid-state cooling technology, which replaces traditional refrigeration and cooling methods. The company’s cooling solutions use thermoelectric devices that move heat through a semiconductor material, allowing them to cool or heat without moving parts. This makes them more reliable, quieter, and efficient than conventional systems. Phononic’s cooling technology is used in several sectors, including data centres, healthcare, retail, and cold chain logistics.
 

Data Centre Cooling

Phononic provides advanced cooling solutions for data centres, which have high cooling demands due to the vast amounts of computing power they require. Phononic’s solid-state cooling systems are designed to enhance the performance and efficiency of data centres while reducing energy usage and operational costs. By using solid-state thermoelectrics, Phononic’s cooling devices minimise the risk of thermal throttling, ensuring optimal performance even under high loads. This is crucial for maintaining the reliability and longevity of servers and other critical infrastructure in data centres.

Healthcare and Cold Chain Solutions

Phononic’s cooling technology is vital for preserving temperature-sensitive products, such as pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and biologics. In the healthcare sector, the company offers cooling solutions that help protect life-saving drugs and ensure that vaccines are stored and transported at the correct temperatures. Phononic’s technology is also used in the cold chain logistics industry to maintain the quality of perishable goods such as food and beverages. With solid-state cooling, Phononic offers more reliable and energy-efficient solutions that help reduce spoilage and improve the efficiency of cold storage and transport systems.
 

Optoelectronics Cooling

Phononic has developed high-performance thermoelectric coolers (TECs) for optoelectronics, an area where efficient cooling is essential for maintaining performance. Their TECs are used to cool fibre optics components, optical transceivers, and LiDAR sensors, which are critical in high-speed data transmission and advanced technologies like autonomous vehicles. Phononic’s cooling solutions are specifically designed to handle the high demands of 400G, 800G, and 1.6T optical systems, ensuring that these components operate efficiently and reliably.
 

HVAC Solutions

Phononic has also ventured into the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) market with its innovative TTAP (Terminal Treatment of Air with Peltier) platform. This all-electric, net-zero system offers a sustainable alternative to traditional HVAC systems, which rely on refrigerants. Phononic’s TTAP system provides demand-based cooling and heating, using only partially treated air for ventilation. This solution can be integrated into both new buildings and existing retrofits, offering flexibility and ease of installation. By eliminating the need for refrigerants, the TTAP system contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, helping buildings achieve net-zero energy goals.
 

Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

One of the key benefits of Phononic’s products is their energy efficiency. Phononic’s solutions can reduce energy usage by up to 30%, compared to traditional cooling and heating systems. This makes them not only more sustainable but also more cost-effective. Their solid-state technology is also highly reliable, with fewer moving parts that are prone to failure, resulting in longer-lasting products and lower maintenance costs. Additionally, Phononic’s products are designed to be environmentally friendly, using non-toxic and non-flammable materials like CO2 and water, instead of harmful refrigerants used in traditional systems.