Vietnam’s Alterno Reaches Top 15 at SET Award 2026 in Berlin
Berlin, The Gulf Observer: Vietnamese company Alterno has secured a place among the top 15 startups at the prestigious SET Award 2026, outperforming nearly 500 applicants from 79 countries at the ceremony held in Berlin on March 17.
The annual award, part of the SET Tech Festival 2026 marking its 10th anniversary, recognizes leading startups driving the global transition to sustainable energy. This milestone marks the first time in the award’s decade-long history that a Vietnamese company has reached the finals.
Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Nguyễn Đắc Thành highlighted Việt Nam’s strong commitment to sustainable development, including its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. He underscored the country’s focus on accelerating energy transition, green growth, and innovation across sectors.
The ambassador also pointed to strengthening energy cooperation between Việt Nam and Germany, particularly following the Joint Declaration on Energy Partnership signed in July 2025. He noted that platforms such as the SET Tech Festival play a vital role in fostering knowledge exchange, attracting investment, and promoting innovation between the two countries.
Expressing national pride, Thành congratulated Alterno for its achievement and commended all participants in the SET Award 2026.
A panel of leading global experts in energy, technology, and commerce evaluated the finalists, selecting top innovators across five categories: Buildings and Construction, Mobility and Transportation, Quality Energy Access, Industry, and Clean Energy and Storage.
Alterno ranked among the top three in the Clean Energy and Storage category. Organisers praised the company’s innovative sand battery technology, describing it as a safe, non-flammable energy storage system capable of delivering industrial process heat ranging from 300 to 600 degrees Celsius. The system is built from abundant and fully recyclable natural materials.
Co-founders Hải Hồ and Nam Nguyễn highlighted the technology’s key advantage—its ability to store energy efficiently at low cost—addressing affordability challenges faced by many alternative solutions. The battery core, composed of inorganic materials such as ceramic, salt, and nickel, is highly fire-resistant and suitable for applications in data centres and industrial facilities requiring stable and eco-friendly energy storage.
Ahead of the ceremony, Ambassador Thành met with and congratulated the co-founders at the Vietnamese Embassy in Berlin.
He noted that Germany continues to prioritize energy transition and regularly hosts initiatives to promote green technologies. In this context, Alterno’s innovation is expected to attract strong interest from companies, researchers, and investors.
Headquartered in Việt Nam, Alterno specializes in sustainable battery solutions for a wide range of sectors, including sustainable agriculture. The company’s latest achievement is seen as a significant step forward in advancing Việt Nam’s presence in the global clean energy landscape.
