Xavier Moya
Founder and Director, Barocal
Xavier Moya joins the Breakthrough Energy Fellows program from Barocal, based in Cambridge, UK. Xavier is a physicist and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience researching innovative materials for sustainable heating and cooling at the University of Cambridge. As the Founder and Director of Barocal, he leads efforts to develop and commercialize a new environmentally friendly technology that could revolutionize the way we cool and heat our homes and businesses.
Barocal is pioneering a new class of solid refrigerants with zero global warming potential. These materials, discovered after 15 years of research at the University of Cambridge, deliver 2-3 times greater energy efficiency than conventional systems, significantly reducing both operational costs and carbon emissions. Unlike traditional refrigerants, Barocal’s solid-state technology eliminates the need for harmful gases, providing a sustainable and scalable solution to the world’s heating and cooling needs. Through the Fellows program, Xavier and his team will scale their solid-state cooling system with improved energy efficiencies and performance metrics suitable for commercial applications.
Xavier completed his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Physics as well as his Doctor of Philosophy on magnetic shape memory alloys at the University of Barcelona. He is a Professor of Materials Physics at the University of Cambridge and a member of the UK Young Academy. He is passionate about making an impact on people suffering from heat waves.
Q&A
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
When I was a young boy my father told me to be patient and give things time. Meaningful achievements don’t happen overnight and patience is key to seeing things through.
What beliefs drive you?
I have been very fortunate to be funded through most of my career by publicly funded scholarships and fellowships, in the UK and abroad, all of which have been instrumental in my personal and professional development. I am guided by a deep sense of responsibility to have a positive impact and it is my moral duty to give back to society so others can benefit, especially younger generations.