About Path to Zero
We see the need to build industrial energy strategies on a quantitatively sound basis for decision-making.
We are a specialized consulting and software company with a focus on industrial decarbonization. Our team supports decision-makers from industry and politics in achieving the transition to a 1.5°C-aligned value chain.
Path to Zero was founded in 2022 as a spin-off of the Energy System Analysis research group of Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences. Our work is based on the findings of 10 years of research in the research initiatives WIN4Climate and Interflex4Climate on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment.
Our methods have supported numerous industrial companies (including the chemical, paper, cement and automotive industries) in the development of sustainable energy strategies and have been validated by peer-reviewed publications in renowned journals.
In 2023, Path to Zero was awarded the Digital Innovation Prize by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection for its software product decide.
Our founders
Dr. Markus Bohlayer
Founder and Managing Director
Markus has more than 10 years of experience in the energy optimization of industrial energy systems and has advised companies from a wide range of sectors (including chemicals, cement, paper and automotive). He conducted research on decarbonization of industry at the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences and received his PhD with distinction from the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg on investment and operational strategies for industrial energy systems in 2020. Markus is a certified BAFA energy auditor and studied industrial engineering with a focus on energy technology at the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences.
Dr.-Ing. Adrian Bürger
Founder and Head of Software and Optimization
Adrian has more than 12 years of experience in software development. He developed software for optimal design and model predictive control of complex renewable energy systems as a research scientist at the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences and the Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg and received his Ph.D. with distinction from the University of Freiburg in 2020. Previously, he studied industrial engineering at the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences. Among other things, his algorithms control industrial combined heat and power plants depending on current electricity prices, solar thermal air conditioning systems depending on the weather forecast, and support the design of bidirectional cooling networks.
Software
Digital tools to steer your company on a cost-optimal climate transition pathway
Consultancy services
Tailored consultancy services to support your company’s climate and energy strategy
Our partners
Path to Zero was funded from September 2022 to August 2023 as part of the EXIST program.
