What Renewable Thermal Collaborative does

Renewable Thermal Collaborative (RTC) is a U.S.-headquartered nonprofit coalition founded in 2017 by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), David Gardiner and Associates (DGA), and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), operating as a pre-competitive, antitrust-safe convening platform for industrial thermal decarbonization. Its membership consists of 120+ major industrial heat users and clean heat solution providers spanning food & beverage (Cargill, Mars, P&G), pharmaceuticals (Roche, AstraZeneca), chemicals (Eastman), and apparel (Levi Strauss). RTC does not develop proprietary hardware; instead it convenes members around six renewable thermal technology pillars — beneficial electrification (heat pumps, electric boilers), geothermal, green hydrogen, biomethane/RNG, solar thermal, and thermal energy storage — and packages knowledge products targeting adoption barriers at industrial facilities.

Its product surface consists of three core tools (Policy Finder, Partner Locator, Heat Pump Decision Support Tools developed with Verco) and a substantial publications library co-authored with named third-party analysts — Vision Report, Thermal Batteries assessment (Brattle Group), Green Hydrogen Technology Assessment (Deloitte), Food & Beverage Playbook (Guidehouse), state-level electrification analysis (Global Efficiency Intelligence), Community Benefits Handbook, and a 2026 headline economic report projecting $254B in industrial electrification investment. Recurring programs include monthly Community Calls, technology- and sector-specific working groups (U.S. Policy, Geothermal, Green Hydrogen, Solar Thermal, Thermal Energy Storage, Food & Beverage), the RTC in Europe initiative, and the annual RTC Summit (2026 edition scheduled October 21-23 in Arlington, VA).

Revenue mechanics are nonprofit membership dues from industrial energy buyers and clean heat solution providers, supplemented by Summit registration fees and sponsorships. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. In 2025 the organization spun out into an independent nonprofit corporation with 501(c)(3) status pending and launched a permanent CEO search to succeed interim Executive Director David Gardiner. Operating geography is U.S.-led with an explicit Europe program and 2026 expansion scoping into China and India; the Partner Locator advertises worldwide coverage of 60+ solutions providers. The organization does not sell software, APIs, or commercial products, and generates no disclosed revenue, funding, or contract data in the input set.

Name

Renewable Thermal Collaborative

Legal name

Renewable Thermal Collaborative

Website

https://renewablethermal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Renewable Thermal Collaborative is a U.S.-headquartered nonprofit coalition of 120+ industrial heat users and clean heat solution providers, convening members around renewable heating and cooling technologies and producing publications, tools, and working groups to accelerate industrial thermal decarbonization.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Decarbonization Coalition Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Onsite Low-Carbon Heat & CHP (Electrified CHP, Fuel Cells, Renewable CHP) (EUABAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

TES Systems Integration, Controls & Optimization (TES EMS, Controls, Dispatch) (EUAFANAK), Waste Heat Recovery & Heat Integration (HRSG/ORC, Pinch Analysis, Heat Exchangers) (EUABAJAF)

Keywords

• Industrial decarbonization coalition
• Renewable thermal energy
• Clean heat adoption
• Membership-based sustainability
• Industrial electrification convening

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The RTC generates revenue through membership fees from industrial and institutional thermal energy users (Members) and clean heat solution providers (Solutions Providers). Membership enables participation in working groups, access to resources, and engagement in policy advocacy.
2. Event Revenue: The RTC Summit and other events generate revenue through registration fees and sponsorships. The annual Summit is described as the premier educational event for renewable thermal energy stakeholders.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Renewable Thermal Collaborative (RTC) is a nonprofit coalition that convenes industrial thermal energy users and clean heat solution providers to accelerate the deployment of renewable heating and cooling technologies. It operates a pre-competitive membership program serving 120+ members and delivers value through peer-learning working groups, an annual Summit, policy advocacy, technical tools (Policy Finder, Partner Locator, Heat Pump Decision Support Tools, GeoMap), and authoritative publications such as technology assessments and sector playbooks.

Product overview

The Renewable Thermal Collaborative (RTC) is a nonprofit coalition — not a product company — organized around peer learning, technical resource development, market analysis, and policy advocacy. Its offerings are entirely informational and convening in nature: a Policy Finder database of U.S. federal and state renewable thermal incentives, a Partner Locator connecting energy buyers with Solutions Providers, Heat Pump Decision Support Tools (spreadsheet-based evaluation tools co-developed with Verco), a Geothermal Exploration Opportunities Map (GeoMap™ Beta, developed with Project InnerSpace and Google), plus publications including the Renewable Thermal Vision Report, technology assessments (Solar Thermal, Green Hydrogen, Thermal Batteries), sector playbooks (Food & Beverage), state-level electrification analyses, an Electrification Action Plan, and an Electrification Roadmap. RTC complements these resources with recurring programs: monthly Community Calls, Technology Working Groups (Electrification, Geothermal, Green Hydrogen, Solar Thermal, Thermal Storage, Food & Beverage), a U.S. Policy Working Group, an RTC in Europe program, and the annual RTC Summit — the primary in-person convening of the renewable thermal community. The organization does not offer a software-as-a-service platform, API, or commercial product in the traditional sense.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Program A pre-competitive membership-based convening for industrial thermal energy users and clean heat solution providers, providing access to working groups, tools, publications, peer learning, and policy advocacy on renewable heating and cooling. Membership spans industrial energy users and clean heat solutions providers (120+ members).
• Policy Finder A searchable database of U.S. federal and state policies supporting renewable thermal energy deployment, including tax incentives, regulatory policies, grants, RD&D, and technical assistance programs, with filtering by technology, policy type, and geography.
• Partner Locator A search and filter tool connecting industrial energy users with 60+ RTC Solutions Providers by service type (advisory, financing, technology), solution category (solar thermal, geothermal, RNG, thermal storage, electrification), and geographic scope worldwide.
• Heat Pump Decision Support Tools A suite of freely available, spreadsheet-based tools developed with Verco that assists engineers in preliminary studies for industrial heat pump installations, bridging the gap between multi-site emission planners and on-ground technical engineering teams.
• Geothermal Exploration Opportunities Map (GeoMap™) A Beta tool developed by Project InnerSpace in partnership with Google providing surface and subsurface data, suitability analysis, and techno-economic sensitivity tools for assessing next-generation geothermal development potential worldwide.
• RTC Summit The annual in-person event convening leaders across the renewable thermal energy landscape, including industrial energy users, solution providers, policymakers, financiers, and NGOs, featuring main stage panels, breakout sessions, technology showcases, and networking.
• Community Calls Monthly virtual community calls held on the second Tuesday of each month, open to all RTC Members and Solutions Providers, designed to support collaboration and information sharing across RTC workstreams.
• RTC in Europe Program A regional initiative convening RTC Members and Solutions Providers with European operations or interests to share project lessons, track policy developments, and publish case studies specific to the European renewable thermal market.
• Heat as a Service (HaaS) Resources A curated resource program explaining Heat as a Service (HaaS) financing structures that allow industrial companies to implement renewable heat solutions without upfront capital investment, with payments based on heat consumed, including case studies.
• Electrification Action Plan A multi-year strategy developed with the Electrification Working Group addressing barriers to industrial electrification, outlining priority market, policy, and community actions toward a 30% reduction in U.S. industrial thermal emissions by 2030 and full decarbonization by 2050.
• Thermal Batteries Report A report prepared by The Brattle Group assessing the potential of thermal energy storage technology for U.S. industry, finding that electrified thermal batteries can be cost-competitive today and that opportunity will grow with renewable electricity buildout.
• Green Hydrogen Technology Assessment An assessment co-authored by Deloitte and WWF evaluating the technical and economic potential of green hydrogen for industrial process heat, outlining barriers in the U.S. hydrogen market and pathways for scaling deployment.
• Food & Beverage Decarbonization Playbook A playbook co-authored with WWF and Guidehouse outlining technology, market, and policy barriers to heat pump and electric boiler deployment in the food and beverage sector, with actionable recommendations for energy buyers and stakeholders.
• Utility Engagement Playbook for Industrial Customers A playbook designed to help industrial customers navigate engagement with electric utilities on electrification and decarbonization opportunities, addressing the business opportunity electrification represents for utilities.
• Community Benefits Handbook A handbook developed with Sustain Our Future Foundation and WSP providing guidance on community benefits considerations in renewable thermal projects, with input from the Community Benefits Advisory Board.
• GHG Accounting Resources Resources supporting member organizations in greenhouse-gas accounting practices tied to renewable thermal decarbonization efforts and corporate climate reporting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Scaling industrial electrification could drive $254 billion in investment, $471 billion in economic output, and support 1.66 million jobs over the next decade
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Industrial Heat Pump AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026The Industrial Heat Pump (IHP) Alliance is a partnership between ACEEE, NEMA, and the RTC. Joint initiative produced the report 'Powering American Industry: The Economic Opportunity of Industrial Electrification' published June 2026.
• World Wildlife Fund (Publisher)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 June 2026WWF co-published the industrial electrification report with RTC and IHP Alliance, contributing to research dissemination and policy outreach.
• Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017C2ES was one of the three founding organizations that first organized the RTC in 2017. C2ES staff continue to facilitate RTC workstreams, develop tools and resources, and advise on policy advocacy matters. Melissa Hulting serves as Director for Industrial Decarbonization at C2ES.
• David Gardiner and Associates (DGA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017DGA was one of three founding organizations of the RTC in 2017. David Gardiner serves as RTC Interim Executive Director. DGA staff lead workstreams, communicate with Members and Solutions Providers, and direct RTC growth.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017WWF was one of the three founding organizations of the RTC in 2017. Daniel Riley serves as Director, International Corporate Climate Partnership at WWF. Cihang Yuan serves as Deputy Director at RTC through WWF.
• Global Efficiency IntelligencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored multiple RTC reports including 'Electrifying U.S. Industry' and 'Industrial Electrification in U.S. States.' Provides technical analysis and technology assessments for RTC workstreams.
• GuidehouseminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCo-authored the 'Playbook for Decarbonizing Process Heat in the Food and Beverage Sector' with WWF. Provides consulting expertise for sector-specific analysis.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCo-authored the 'Green Hydrogen Technology Assessment' with Deloitte and 'Playbook for Decarbonizing Process Heat in the Food and Beverage Sector' with Guidehouse.
• DeloitteminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCo-authored the 'Green Hydrogen Technology Assessment' with WWF, providing consulting and analysis on green hydrogen market potential and barriers.
• The Brattle GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrepared the report 'Thermal Batteries: Opportunities to Accelerate Decarbonization of Industrial Heating' assessing thermal energy storage potential for US industry.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP): A global nonprofit operating a corporate environmental disclosure system with deep Fortune-500 corporate engagement. Overlaps with RTC's corporate member relationships on industrial emissions reporting and target-setting, though with a disclosure rather than convening mandate.
• Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES): One of RTC's three founding organizations and an independent policy-focused nonprofit on climate and energy. C2ES shares RTC's industrial-decarbonization policy workstreams and provides staff support to RTC, but operates as a broader climate-policy think tank.
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD): A global, CEO-led coalition of ~200+ major companies working on sustainability and climate. Comparable in scale and convening authority with corporate members across many of RTC's sectors, but with a much broader scope than RTC's industrial thermal focus.

Direct peers

• American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE): A nonprofit research organization that co-leads the Industrial Heat Pump Alliance with RTC. ACEEE operates in adjacent industrial-decarbonization research space, contributing policy analysis that complements RTC's convening role.
• Mission Innovation / Industrial Decarbonization Alliance: A government-led multilateral initiative with a parallel industry track aimed at accelerating industrial decarbonization R&D and pilot deployment. Highly comparable mission to RTC, with similar member-driven industrial decarbonization focus and overlap on green hydrogen and CCUS workstreams.
• Industrial Heat Pump Alliance: A partnership between ACEEE, NEMA, and RTC specifically advancing industrial heat pumps in U.S. policy and markets. Directly overlaps with RTC's Beneficial Electrification working group, co-published the June 2026 'Powering American Industry' report, and competes for the same member attention on heat-pump deployment.
• Clean Energy Buyers Alliance (CEBA): A membership-driven coalition of energy buyers and solution providers accelerating market-based clean energy procurement. CEBA is the closest analog to RTC: pre-competitive nonprofit, enterprise member base, working groups, and policy advocacy — but focused on renewable electricity rather than renewable thermal.
• Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA): A nonprofit membership organization convening utilities, solution providers, and customers around grid modernization and decarbonization. Comparable membership-driven model and convening footprint, though anchored in utility-side integration rather than industrial heat.
• Climate Group (RE100, EP100): An international nonprofit coalition running corporate renewable-energy initiatives (RE100 for electricity, EP100 for energy productivity). Comparable coalition model and corporate membership base, though its industrial heat coverage is shallower than RTC's.

Emerging players

• Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI): An independent energy-transition nonprofit with growing work on industrial decarbonization, renewable thermal, and heat pumps. RMI runs parallel initiatives on beneficial electrification and industrial heat, partially overlapping with RTC's technology working groups.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/renewable-thermal-collaborative
• Xx.com/REthermal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Renewable Thermal Collaborative