InstaHeat AG revolutionises Liquid Heating, changes Global regulations
15.10.24, 11:30
InstaHeat AG has redefined liquid heating with its patented Ohmic technology, achieving global regulatory approval for a safer, more efficient way to heat liquids instantly.
Zurich, Switzerland
When water and electricity come in contact, there is an explosion and electrocution risk. Direct Ohmic heating is a technology that generates heat by passing electrical current directly through the liquid that flows between two electrodes placed along a pipe. It is no wonder, then, that it has been prohibited by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) since the 1990s.
InstaHeat changed it all in 2025. With key breakthroughs, the Zurich-based cleantech startup created safety standards and changed global regulations. This marked a shift to smarter, more sustainable heating solutions using direct Ohmic heating.
Pioneering a Zero-Hazard Technology
The founding idea of InstaHeat was bold and disruptive. Traditional approaches, where current flowed directly through liquid without separation, had long been dismissed as hazardous. However, we thought that modern power electronics should enable making direct Ohmic heating systems safe by implementing galvanic isolation. We believed that today's converter technology could fundamentally change that. This conviction led us to develop and patent a fully galvanically isolated system architecture with intelligent current path control and real-time sensing. By embedding safety into the core of the design, we eliminated the risks of explosion and electrocution that had previously hindered adoption.
Our Patent system becomes the basis for international regulatory change - transforming Ohmic heating into a ertified, clean, and scalable method for heating liquids.
Global Liquid Heating Regulations Rewritten
InstaHeat pioneered a groundbreaking initiative, earning the mandate to represent Switzerland at the IEC. The company initiated international action on Ohmic heating, demonstrated the safety of its patented technology, and led the working group that delivered a new global safety amendment enabling its use in food and beverage equipment. The revised regulation was officially made available in January 2025. It fully reflects InstaHeat’s safety concept and enables the global deployment of its technology.
Within the IEC’s household appliance committee, InstaHeat became the first Swiss startup to represent a country and the first to lead a successful international regulatory change.
Miniaturisation with HeatFlow
Liquid heating has remained largely unchanged for decades. We used modern high-tech power conversion to unlock new levels of performance, precision, and efficiency. Our device, HeatFlow, is the world’s first miniaturised direct ohmic heating-based flow heater. It seamlessly integrates into compact systems, such as commercial coffee machines, household appliances, and decentralised water infrastructure. HeatFlow heats conductive liquids like water, milk, or wine instantly and precisely, without standby losses and overheating, eliminating boilers, and associated problems.
InstaHeat is the first company to successfully miniaturise a direct ohmic heating-based flow heater, and holds technology patents across the US, Europe and, Asia.
Market Segments with High Impact Potential
Coffee machines: Commercial machines use 2.4 million boilers worldwide, wasting 870 GWh of energy per year — the equivalent of 200,000 households. They also cause 360,000 tons of milk loss and CHF 1.7 billion in annual maintenance costs. InstaHeat eliminates this waste with precise, on-demand heating.
Infrastructure: Up to 40% of energy is lost in today’s hot water systems. InstaHeat removes the need for central boilers, simplifies plumbing by distributing only cold water, and boosts the efficiency of heat pumps.
Food and beverage: Enables precise, energy-efficient pasteurisation through uniform heating, reducing energy use and preserving quality.
InstaHeat is partnering with leading Swiss commercial coffee machine manufacturers, supplying to domestic and international markets. In October 2025, InstaHeat's HeatFlow will debut at the world's leading trade fair for the hotel, restaurant, catering, and food-tech sectors - HostMilano 2025.
