MicroEra Power Raises $2M to Advance Thermal Energy Storage Platform for Commercial Buildings 

MicroEra Power, a Rochester-based clean energy startup developing thermal energy storage systems for commercial buildings, has raised approximately $2 million in funding to advance its platform that shifts heating and cooling loads to off-peak energy periods and reduces building emissions and energy costs.

The company’s technology, centered around its flagship system THERMAplus, combines phase change materials with smart software to store and release thermal energy for heating and cooling applications. By enabling buildings to store energy during low-cost or renewable-heavy periods and deploy it during peak demand, the system is designed to reduce electricity costs while supporting grid stability and decarbonization goals.

MicroEra Power’s funding has come through a mix of public and institutional climate innovation programs, including participation in the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2), which supports clean energy startups with validation resources and commercialization support. The company has also been supported through RMI’s Third Derivative, a global climate tech accelerator that helps scale high-impact energy and industrial solutions.

Additional ecosystem backing includes participation in Greentown Labs, one of the largest climatetech incubators in North America, where MicroEra Power has developed and tested its early-stage systems alongside other startups working on electrification, energy storage, and grid optimization technologies.

The company was founded in 2018 and is led by CEO and co-founder Eleanor “Ellie” Rusling and CTO and co-founder James Grieve. Together, they have positioned MicroEra Power at the intersection of building electrification and grid-responsive energy systems, targeting commercial real estate, industrial facilities, and utility partners seeking more efficient energy management solutions.

MicroEra Power’s approach addresses one of the largest sources of global emissions: heating and cooling in buildings. By integrating thermal storage directly into HVAC systems, the company aims to reduce peak electricity demand, improve operational efficiency, and enable better utilization of renewable energy during off-peak hours.

The company has stated that its technology can significantly reduce peak load demand while lowering operational costs for building owners. It also helps utilities manage grid stress more effectively as electrification increases electricity consumption across commercial and residential sectors.

Investor and accelerator participation reflects growing momentum in thermal energy storage and building electrification technologies. Climate-focused venture programs and innovation incubators have increasingly prioritized solutions that can deliver grid flexibility without relying solely on lithium-ion battery storage.

The funds raised to date are being used to advance product development, expand pilot deployments, and support early commercialization efforts across commercial buildings and institutional partners. MicroEra Power is also refining its software platform, which optimizes energy storage and discharge based on real-time pricing signals, occupancy patterns, and grid demand conditions.

As demand for scalable, low-carbon energy solutions continues to grow, MicroEra Power is positioning itself as a key player in the thermal storage sector, offering a building-level solution that helps bridge the gap between renewable energy supply and real-world energy consumption needs.