German climate technology company MAGNOTHERM has announced a pilot project with REWE Group to deploy its magnetic cooling technology in supermarkets, marking a significant step toward the commercial adoption of refrigerant-free cooling.

Following a successful evaluation phase, MAGNOTHERM’s ECLIPSE cooling platform will be installed in approximately ten REWE stores within a selected region of Germany. The systems, integrated into top-loader refrigerator units, operate entirely without conventional refrigerants, offering a novel alternative to traditional cooling technologies.

Bringing magnetic cooling into retail

The pilot builds on a multi-week testing program conducted in a model store environment, where the technology demonstrated measurable improvements in energy efficiency and strong operational performance compared to conventional refrigeration systems. The upcoming rollout will test the systems under real supermarket conditions, with installations scheduled to begin later in 2026.

“This is a pivotal moment not only for MAGNOTHERM, but for the cooling industry as a whole. This pilot validates that magnetic cooling has moved beyond the lab and into commercial reality. It shows that there is both demand and readiness in the market to transition away from refrigerants entirely,” ” said Timur Sirman, CEO of MAGNOTHERM.“

Cooling technologies today rely heavily on refrigerant gases, many of which contribute significantly to climate change if released into the atmosphere. By eliminating refrigerants altogether, magnetic cooling offers a fundamentally different approach, designed to improve safety, reduce environmental impact, and increase system efficiency. For REWE Group, the project supports broader climate and sustainability objectives, while also exploring next-generation solutions for energy-efficient retail operations.

“This collaboration allows us to better understand how refrigerant-free systems perform in real-world conditions. It is an important step in demonstrating how this technology integrates into everyday retail environments and scales across the cooling chain”, said Dr. Maximilian Fries, COO of MAGNOTHERM.

Shaping the future of sustainable cooling together

The pilot is also a key milestone in MAGNOTHERM’s commercial development, representing one of the first real-world deployments of magnetocaloric cooling technology in food retail. Insights from the project will inform further scaling and broader market adoption. As the rollout progresses, MAGNOTHERM will continue working closely with REWE and other partners to refine system performance and accelerate the transition toward sustainable cooling infrastructure.

Further readings

MAGNOTHERM Solutions is a German deep-tech startup founded in 2019 as a spin-off from the Technische Universität Darmstadt. Through intensive research and patented processes, the international team has been the first company worldwide to successfully bring magnetic cooling technology to market maturity.

Since 2019 we have covered several news about MAGNOTHERM and followed the progress closely. Read more here.