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Co-founder and CEO of Alternō, Ho Viet Hai. Photo by VnExpress/Trong Dat |
In a quiet corner of Vietnam’s Central Highlands, an off-grid experiment has sparked a clean energy breakthrough with global implications. Ho Viet Hai, a 40-year-old Vietnamese engineer, is turning the world’s most abundant resource—sand—into a reliable and sustainable source of heat energy. His startup, Alternō, is already drawing international attention with orders from Japan, Kenya, and the Philippines.
The idea was born in 2023 when Hai was living without access to the power grid in Lam Dong Province. Relying on solar energy and lithium batteries, he quickly realized a major limitation. While lithium could store electricity, it failed to provide the heat essential for daily needs like drying, cooking, or industrial processing. This challenge led Hai to explore sand-based thermal storage, a technology studied in Europe but rarely adapted for agriculture or small industry.
How a Sand Battery Works
Unlike conventional batteries that store electricity, Alternō’s sand battery stores heat. Using solar or wind power, sand is heated to temperatures between 600 and 1,000 degrees Celsius and stored in insulated tanks. The thermal energy can be retained for up to six months, making it ideal for agriculture and light industry that need consistent heating without the environmental cost of burning fossil fuels.
The system is particularly suited to developing nations where energy access remains inconsistent and expensive. Trials in Vietnam showed a 5–15% reduction in monthly energy costs at factories and farms. Better still, production lines didn’t need any modification—just a change in the heat source.
Coffee Grounds and Clean Energy
Alternō’s potential goes beyond cost savings. In one pilot project, the battery system was used to dry 10 tons of wet coffee grounds per day. This significantly reduced waste volume and halved waste treatment costs, a tangible example of how green technology can also cut operational expenses.
These achievements earned Alternō a prominent place at the 2025 P4G Summit in Hanoi, where it was among the top three booths visited by heads of government and UN leaders. The summit provided a launchpad for Alternō to attract new partners and international customers.
Funding the Green Future
The P4G platform, which supports green growth partnerships globally, played a key role in getting the technology to market. It helped fund the installation of trial units at local factories, allowing clients to see the benefits before committing. This approach helped overcome skepticism, especially in markets unfamiliar with thermal storage technologies.
Alternō’s basic system, which includes solar panels and a thermal tank, costs around US$30,000. The company also offers a lease plan at $300 per month over four years. Agricultural models are priced at approximately VND500 million, making them accessible to cooperatives and small industries.
Global Ex derway
With a successful track record at home, Alternō is now scaling up for global markets. Its largest order to date, valued at $2 million, comes from a multinational client with sustainability goals. From coffee producers in Kenya to farming cooperatives in the Philippines, Alternō is capturing attention in regions where energy needs are high and fossil fuel reliance remains heavy.
Hai is focused on the next chapter—introducing sand batteries to more developing nations across Asia, Africa and Latin America. His mission is clear: to make clean, affordable heat a reality for industries and communities that need it most.
Website Contact
For more information about Alternō and its sand battery technology, visit:
https://alterno.net/
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