Alternō is a green technology startup from Vietnam, known for developing the world’s first sand-based thermal energy storage solution, targeting applications in industry and agriculture. This technology enables the storage of renewable energy in the form of heat at temperatures ranging from 300 to 600 degrees Celsius, helping businesses significantly reduce fossil fuel usage, cut energy costs, and lower carbon emissions.
From the very beginning, the founding team at Alternō identified a critical gap in the energy transition process of small and medium-sized factories: most renewable energy solutions focus on electricity, while the demand for thermal energy in production still relies heavily on coal, oil, and gas. Instead of competing in the already saturated solar and wind energy markets, they chose to focus on thermal storage—a promising yet underexplored direction. Alternō’s R&D journey spanned over three years, with numerous failed experiments before they identified the right materials and design capable of storing and releasing heat steadily over long durations. Sand—a widely available, low-cost, and heat-resistant material—was ultimately selected as the core of their thermal storage system.
Alternō’s solution currently comes in two versions: Alterno Standard and Alterno Pro, both delivering stable high-temperature heat to serve industries requiring continuous production, such as food processing, textiles, agricultural drying, and materials manufacturing. The technology is recognized for its simple structure, low maintenance requirements, long lifespan, and scalability—features particularly important for small and medium-sized factories where investment and operational costs are critical considerations.
A notable feature of Alternō’s technology is its ability to fully replace traditional fossil fuel-based heat generation systems. Compared to electric boilers or biomass combustion, Alternō’s sand-based thermal system offers superior stability, lower operating costs, and produces no direct emissions during operation. In real-world trials with major partners such as PepsiCo and Mondelez, the system demonstrated its capability to supply continuous heat, meeting the strict requirements of modern production lines.
From a development perspective, Alternō has attracted the attention of both domestic and international organizations. The startup was selected to present at the P4G Vietnam Summit 2025, where it showcased its industrial energy transition model through sand-based thermal storage. This model received high praise from international businesses and development organizations for its feasibility, potential to fully replace traditional heating systems, and contribution toward net-zero emissions targets. Previously, Alternō also received support from entities within the innovation ecosystem, such as the CIC Clean Energy Incubation Program sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology, as well as interest from regional energy investors.
From Alternō’s journey, several important lessons emerge for other founders in the green tech sector. First is the importance of identifying the right “market gap”—in this case, the lack of renewable solutions for industrial heat—and focusing technological development on solving that exact problem. Second, instead of following popular tech trends, pursuing a distinctive and sustainable path can open up greater long-term opportunities for a startup. Finally, the ability to convert technology into a practical product—validated by major industry customers—is key to convincing investors and scaling up.
As Vietnam and Southeast Asia accelerate their energy transitions, technological solutions like those developed by Alternō not only hold commercial value but also deliver profound social and environmental impact. This stands as proof that a local startup can absolutely contribute to the global technology landscape—if it follows the right path and addresses real-world challenges.
