Dew Point Systems Ltd
Low carbon cooling: Hull spin-out tackles one of tech’s biggest emissions challenges
Dew Point Systems Ltd targets rapidly growing cooling market
This pioneering new spin‑out from the University of Hull is set to transform one of the world’s fastest‑growing and most energy‑hungry industries: data centres.
Built on 15 years of engineering research, the company brings to market a breakthrough cooling technology capable of cutting electricity use and carbon emissions by up to 90 per cent. In a sector facing soaring demand, rising energy costs, and intensifying pressure to decarbonise, Dew Point Systems Ltd offers data centre operators a simple and cost-effective solution – backed by academic excellence.
The challenge
Data centres are expanding rapidly, with forecasts indicating that the UK alone will see around 100 new facilities built within five years. Across Europe, further expansion is expected as digital services, cloud computing, and AI continue to accelerate. Yet this growth comes with a heavy environmental cost: air‑based cooling systems are major consumers of electricity, contributing to the 10 per cent of global energy use attributed to air conditioning and electric fans.
The challenge is clear: without radical innovation, the energy and emissions footprint of data centre cooling will continue to rise, undermining global climate goals and increasing operational costs for businesses.
The innovation
Researchers at the University of Hull, led by Senior Research Fellow Dr Xiaoli Ma, developed a novel super‑performance dew point cooling system that uses the principle of water evaporation to cool air, far more efficiently than conventional technologies.
Key elements of the innovation journey included:
- Long‑term research and refinement over 15 years to achieve major breakthroughs in indirect evaporative cooling performance.
- Real‑world testing, demonstrating that the system can reduce cooling‑related energy consumption by around 90 per cent.
- Collaboration with Cambridge Future Tech, a deep‑tech venture builder specialising in commercialising university research, to create and scale a viable spin‑out company.
- Formation of Dew Point Systems Ltd, enabling the technology to move from laboratory innovation to market‑ready solution.
The company is now raising pre‑seed investment to build its team and establish commercial routes to market.
Impact
With 30 times the efficiency of conventional cooling systems, Dew Point Systems Ltd dramatically reduces the energy intensity of data centre operation, supporting global efforts to mitigate climate change by addressing one of the fastest‑growing sources of energy demand.
For data centre operators, the innovative system brings a significant reduction in operating costs by reducing energy bills. With forecasts suggesting over 100 data centres will be built over the next five years in the UK alone, this technology will help operators improve their competitiveness in this rapidly expanding market.
Dew Point Systems Ltd positions the University of Hull at the forefront of sustainable innovation – demonstrating how academic excellence can catalyse real‑world change at scale.
Investor opportunities
Dew Point Systems Ltd is currently validating market demand, refining its value proposition, and demonstrating technical feasibility through modelling – laying the groundwork for investor engagement and early customer acquisition.
The team are now seeking pre‑seed investment to accelerate commercial deployment of its breakthrough cooling technology – offering investors a rare opportunity to back a proven, ultra‑efficient solution with the potential to redefine energy use and emissions across the rapidly expanding data‑centre sector.
For investment enquiries, please email X.Ma@hull.ac.uk
Testing our system in the real world we have been able to cut energy consumption for cooling by around 90 per cent, delivering close to zero carbon cooling.Dr Xiaoli Ma
Senior Research Fellow, University of Hull
Meet the expert: Dr Xiaoli Ma
Dr Xiaoli Ma is a leading researcher in sustainable building services and low‑carbon energy technologies. Her work has delivered breakthroughs in high‑efficiency cooling, renewable energy systems, and advanced heat‑recovery technologies.
With more than 90 publications, multiple patents, and major grants from bodies including the EU, EPSRC, Innovate UK and the Carbon Trust, Dr Ma’s research has consistently pushed the boundaries of energy‑efficient engineering.
Her pioneering development of super‑performance dew point cooling – achieving up to 90% energy savings – forms the scientific foundation of Dew Point Systems Ltd, exemplifying her impact as both an innovator and a leader in sustainable technology.
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