Epyr co-CEO interview: Léa Dardenne

Tell us about yourself, Léa.

I have always worked on energy and decarbonization, in many forms: as a consultant supporting large corporates across several parts of the world, as a public servant in the French Prime Minister's office, and now as an entrepreneur. The energy transition is the mission and passion I have chosen to devote myself to, in my own small way. Beyond that, I'm the happy mother of two, and I dream of leaving my kids a great world to live in.

Why did you decide to move from the French Energy Transition Plan to create a start-up?

Working for the government on environmental planning left me with a deep conviction: if we want an energy transition narrative people can actually get behind, we need tangible, short-term solutions that show it is possible and positive. That is what has been missing in recent years, today the pendulum has swung and climate has slipped down the political agenda. To rebuild that story, we need concrete solutions that deliver now, at no extra cost. That's why, for me, having an environmental impact today meant shifting the focus from systemic planning to down-to-earth execution.

What is your view on the momentum for Thermal Energy Storage (TES)?

TES is the answer to a paradigm shift in European energy markets. Three quarters of European industrial heat depends on natural gas. We lost our competitive advantage on gas with the end of captive Russian pipeline gas, and the recent events in Iran have shown how vulnerable we are to gas shocks. The good news is that the massive buildout of renewables creates great price opportunities at certain times of day, and this is the new competitive advantage of the European energy system. TES sits exactly at the convergence of these two trends: leveraging power flexibility to replace risky gas.

What makes Epyr unique?

The team! I could not be prouder to share this ambitious mission of disrupting industrial heat with such a team: bold dreamers, focused on making it real, with high standards and a deep sense of purpose. Together we bring expertise in industrial scale-up, energy management, industrial sales and entrepreneurship, and that combination is our secret sauce.

What would you say to a sceptical industrial site manager?

Don’t put all your eggs in the gas basket. TES doesn’t ask you to bet against gas, it lets you diversify. It runs alongside your current boiler, charges when power is cheapest, and gives you a second, sovereign source of heat. It is a lever for decarbonization, but also for competitiveness and for hedging against energy price risk.

Why are you executing your plan so quickly?

In our first year, our obsession was to turn a great idea into an industrial asset, operating for a real client. Keeping that focus is what allowed us to deliver our first project at WEPA so quickly. Now the window is open and the momentum is real, so our focus is on delivery, because speed is what proves to the market that it works.

How did you build such a great team?

Bastien and I started with the people we knew best: the strongest colleagues from our previous experiences with complementary backgrounds. Beyond expertise, we shared the same values and the same mindset, which gave us a solid core to build on. That founding team is the fertile ground on which Epyr keeps growing.

What will Epyr be in 5 years?

Epyr aims to be the reference in industrial heat electrification, with a scalable solution able to drive the same disruption we are seeing in other sectors, like transportation, where electrification is taking the lead over fossil fuels.

What do you expect from an investor?

Beyond capital, we expect experience and a sharp eye on priorities, while keeping a long-term view. Disrupting industry is like climbing a north face, and we need investors who know what it takes to scale fast but sustainably, and who help us stay focused on what truly matters.

Why did you select Slate?

Slate had everything we were looking for: investors with an entrepreneurial mindset, who understand what we do, share our vision and know the ecosystem, and who, on top of that, are a real pleasure to work with.

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