Zero by Fifty and Alterno cement strategic partnership

The agreement was signed in Hanoi by Rob Rijnders, a partner at Zero by Fifty, during a strategic visit to Southeast Asia aimed at expanding ZBF's reach into breakthrough clean energy technologies. Under the terms of the agreement, ZBF will support the development of infrastructure and commercial networks necessary to bring Alterno-s groundbreaking solutions to the Americas and Europe, starting with pilot projects in key agro-industrial and manufacturing sectors.

“We see outstanding potential for this partnership,” said Rijnders. “Alterno's clean thermal energy solutions offer a practical, scalable, and carbon-reducing alternative to fossil fuels for industries that are traditionally hard to decarbonize. At Zero by Fifty, we are committed to unlocking the full potential of climate-positive technologies, and Alterno's system is one of the most exciting we've seen.”

Alterno's sand battery stores high-temperature thermal energy (up to 600C) using abundant, low-cost materials like sand and graphite, with minimal heat loss and zero emissions. The system is already being piloted by multinational corporations such as PepsiCo and Mondelez in Southeast Asia, where it has demonstrated the ability to cut energy costs and drastically reduce emissions in agricultural processing and industrial heat applications.

“This agreement is a major step forward in our mission to scale clean thermal energy globally,” said Hai Ho, CEO of Alterno. “Zero by Fifty brings unmatched experience in building international markets and impact-driven infrastructure. We're thrilled to partner with them to bring our technology to new geographies and scale its impact.” The first phase of the collaboration will focus on Latin America, the United States, and key European markets, where Alterno's modular sand battery and hybrid thermal systems will be adapted to local industrial and agricultural heat needs. ZBF will also facilitate investment, regulatory navigation, and partnerships with climate-forward corporations and governments.

This partnership marks a critical step in accelerating the global energy transition, delivering clean, affordable, and accessible thermal energy to the sectors that need it most.