Keey Aerogel, a deeptech startup based in Alsace, has developed a breakthrough method for producing sustainable, high-performance silica aerogel – a material widely known for its exceptional thermal insulation properties. Unlike conventional aerogel, which is typically expensive and environmentally taxing to produce, Keey’s patented process reuses solvents like ethanol and CO₂ in a closed-loop system and is powered by construction waste. The result: the world’s first sustainable aerogel, with dramatically lower carbon impact.
The company’s process not only reduces environmental harm, it also lowers production costs, making aerogel more accessible for industries such as construction, energy, and e-mobility. The Alsace-based firm is currently operating a pilot plant and supplying aerogel to several major European clients.
WHY IT MATTERS
Aerogel is 98% air and 2% silica – one of the most abundant elements on Earth – and offers exceptional insulation while being ultra-lightweight and fire-resistant.
Until now, most aerogel has been imported from a small number of American and Asian manufacturers using costly and polluting methods. Keey Aerogel provides a European-made, sustainable alternative – aligning with the EU’s broader goals of industrial sovereignty and green reindustrialization. The company’s material is already being tested for applications ranging from construction to EV battery insulation.
THE INVESTMENT
In January 2025, Keey Aerogel closed an €18 million Series A funding round, led by Bpifrance’s SPI 2 Fund (part of the France 2030 program), alongside Wind, Capital Grand Est, and NCITY. This investment will allow the startup to scale production and begin the next phase of industrialization.
According to Wind Founding Partner, Thierry Vandewalle, “Being able to manufacture aerogel has now become a matter of European sovereignty. Keey Aerogel combines economic independence with sustainable development.”
WHAT’S NEXT
The funds will support the construction of a second production facility in the Grand Est region – a key step toward Keey’s long-term vision of a decentralized network of local aerogel factories across Europe. Each site will be designed to process local waste and serve nearby industries, creating short supply chains that minimize emissions and logistical costs.
With this new phase, Keey Aerogel aims to industrialize green aerogel at scale, support the energy transition, and position itself as the leading aerogel producer in Europe — and the first to do so sustainably.
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