Accelerating Energy Transition in Industrial and Building HVAC with Waste Heat-Based Liquid Dehumidification Technology

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Klenair is a technology company developing and commercializing liquid desiccant-based HVAC systems that simultaneously perform dehumidification and cooling by utilizing low- and medium-temperature waste heat discarded at industrial sites and large buildings. Existing electrical cooling and reheat-centered air conditioning methods have structural limitations, including increased peak power demand during summer and high carbon emissions. Klenair addresses these issues through an approach focused on minimizing power usage and reusing waste heat.

Specifically, Klenair’s system is designed for application in manufacturing plants, semiconductor and secondary battery-related industrial facilities, logistics centers, hospitals, and large commercial facilities where humidity control performance is required. Its key strength lies in simultaneously achieving improvements beyond simple cooling efficiency, including enhanced working environments, secured equipment operational stability, and reduced energy costs. The company has already validated the field applicability of its technology through numerous demonstration projects and industrial partnerships. This investment will enable Klenair to embark on full-scale business expansion and technological advancement.

With this Pre-A funding, Klenair will focus on:

• Advancing core dehumidification materials and system performance
• Expanding its product lineup tailored to industrial sites
• Securing domestic and international proof-of-concept projects and references

Building a foundation for global market entry. Klenair stated, “Reducing carbon emissions in HVAC systems is becoming a necessity, not an option,” adding, “This investment confirms confidence in our technological capabilities and market potential.”

Sazze Partners, the investor, is a global venture capital firm primarily investing in early-stage companies in deep tech, consumer goods, and bio/healthcare sectors. Within deep tech, it has consistently pursued long-term investments in industrial innovation areas including energy transition and AI infrastructure. Known for prioritizing a company's practical problem-solving capabilities and global scalability over short-term financial performance, Sazze Partners actively supports portfolio companies from strategic planning through subsequent growth phases.

A Sazze Partners representative explained the investment rationale: “Klenair possesses technology capable of simultaneously achieving tangible energy savings and carbon emission reductions in industrial settings. We were impressed not only by the technological maturity but also by the company's market understanding and execution capabilities.” They added, “We expect Klenair 's technology to play a significant role in global markets, including Asia, going forward.”

Klenair aims to leverage this investment as a springboard to leap forward as a technology company fundamentally transforming the energy structure in the HVAC and cooling sectors. Attention is focused on whether Klenair's approach (converting industrial waste heat into an asset) will establish itself as a new standard for the HVAC industry in the era of carbon neutrality.