New and recently funded Energy Startups
1
Country: Canada | Funding: $820.8M
Enerkem has developed gasification technology that converts a wide range of biomass waste into low-carbon fuels and chemicals. Shredded waste is fed into a bubbling fluidized bed gasification reactor where it reacts with steam and oxygen, breaking down the molecules and producing a gas mixture called syngas. The syngas is then sent to another vessel, a reformer, for further conversion of the molecules into the desired components. The resulting syngas is rich in hydrogen and carbon monoxide, key building blocks of molecules used in modern chemical processes. Enerkem has a pipeline of new projects to produce 1,000,000 tons of environmentally friendly methanol per year.
Enerkem has developed gasification technology that converts a wide range of biomass waste into low-carbon fuels and chemicals. Shredded waste is fed into a bubbling fluidized bed gasification reactor where it reacts with steam and oxygen, breaking down the molecules and producing a gas mixture called syngas. The syngas is then sent to another vessel, a reformer, for further conversion of the molecules into the desired components. The resulting syngas is rich in hydrogen and carbon monoxide, key building blocks of molecules used in modern chemical processes. Enerkem has a pipeline of new projects to produce 1,000,000 tons of environmentally friendly methanol per year.
2
Country: USA | Funding: $57.5M
Realta Fusion is developing a technology to generate electricity directly from nuclear fusion. The startup was the first to successfully power a light bulb using the WHAM demonstration fusion reactor. The power converter is installed at the end of the reactor and generates up to several amperes of electricity at 100 volts.
Realta Fusion is developing a technology to generate electricity directly from nuclear fusion. The startup was the first to successfully power a light bulb using the WHAM demonstration fusion reactor. The power converter is installed at the end of the reactor and generates up to several amperes of electricity at 100 volts.
3
Country: Germany | Funding: €607.5M
Proxima Fusion is a spinout from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics that is building a quasi-isodynamic (QI) stellarator - fusion reactor that uses magnets to hold superheated gas in place so atoms can fuse and release energy. In this approach to magnetic confinement toroidal currents are canceled to zero, resulting in uniquely robust characteristics. In the absence of toroidal plasma currents, current instabilities and the risk of failures that can occur in tokamaks and other stellarator concepts can be completely eliminated. The company has also developed a new heat removal technology and has already tested an island divertor at facilities at the Institute.
Proxima Fusion is a spinout from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics that is building a quasi-isodynamic (QI) stellarator - fusion reactor that uses magnets to hold superheated gas in place so atoms can fuse and release energy. In this approach to magnetic confinement toroidal currents are canceled to zero, resulting in uniquely robust characteristics. In the absence of toroidal plasma currents, current instabilities and the risk of failures that can occur in tokamaks and other stellarator concepts can be completely eliminated. The company has also developed a new heat removal technology and has already tested an island divertor at facilities at the Institute.
4
Country: USA | Funding: $225M
Quaise Energy is a geothermal startup that has developed technology for drilling ultra-hot rock. It aims to reduce geothermal energy costs by using a proprietary millimeter-wave drilling technology to produce more energy with fewer boreholes, drilling deeper into hotter rock. At greater depths, Quaise will replace the drill bit with an energy beam, essentially using microwaves to vaporize the rock. This process is intended to reduce downtime and replacement costs, making geothermal energy a more competitive energy source. To reach desired temperatures of 300-500C, Quaise will have to drill deeper than other enhanced geothermal systems.
Quaise Energy is a geothermal startup that has developed technology for drilling ultra-hot rock. It aims to reduce geothermal energy costs by using a proprietary millimeter-wave drilling technology to produce more energy with fewer boreholes, drilling deeper into hotter rock. At greater depths, Quaise will replace the drill bit with an energy beam, essentially using microwaves to vaporize the rock. This process is intended to reduce downtime and replacement costs, making geothermal energy a more competitive energy source. To reach desired temperatures of 300-500C, Quaise will have to drill deeper than other enhanced geothermal systems.
5
Country: USA | Funding: $22M
Critical Energy is an energy based firm that generate electricity with the help of heat through modular and geothermal power plant. Its bet is less about drilling deeper than about building the bit above the ground faster. The startup treats a power plant as a product, not a construction project. Critical Energy’s units are container-sized turbines built mostly off-site, designed to be trucked in and switched on in weeks, then stacked together for larger sites. Critical Energy has a pilot in Los Angeles and its first commercial 2.5mn-watt project is due for completion in 2027.
Critical Energy is an energy based firm that generate electricity with the help of heat through modular and geothermal power plant. Its bet is less about drilling deeper than about building the bit above the ground faster. The startup treats a power plant as a product, not a construction project. Critical Energy’s units are container-sized turbines built mostly off-site, designed to be trucked in and switched on in weeks, then stacked together for larger sites. Critical Energy has a pilot in Los Angeles and its first commercial 2.5mn-watt project is due for completion in 2027.
6
Country: USA | Funding: $457.7M
Infinitum Electric produces lightweight, IoT-enabled electric motors with higher efficiency, lower noise levels, and a smaller footprint. The innovative air-core design simplifies use and maintenance, directly improving your productivity and efficiency. The motor stator provides increased reliability and 66% lower copper content. Integrating the motor with the Infinitum drive saves control panel space, reduces wiring costs, and shortens commissioning time. Infinitum's monitoring software enables predictive and prescriptive maintenance. Built-in IoT support enables optional over-the-air software updates, on-demand access to real-time performance analytics, and remote monitoring.
Infinitum Electric produces lightweight, IoT-enabled electric motors with higher efficiency, lower noise levels, and a smaller footprint. The innovative air-core design simplifies use and maintenance, directly improving your productivity and efficiency. The motor stator provides increased reliability and 66% lower copper content. Integrating the motor with the Infinitum drive saves control panel space, reduces wiring costs, and shortens commissioning time. Infinitum's monitoring software enables predictive and prescriptive maintenance. Built-in IoT support enables optional over-the-air software updates, on-demand access to real-time performance analytics, and remote monitoring.
7
Country: USA | Funding: $1.5B
Helion Energy uses fusion energy to provide pure, safe electricity. Helion's fusion generator elevates fusion (Deuterium and helium-3) fuel to ultra-high temperatures to achieve plasma conditions and directly obtains electricity with a high-efficiency pulsed approach. Magnets confine the plasma in a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) and speed up two FRCs to 1 million mph from opposite ends of the generator. When the FRCs collide in the center of the system, they are further compressed by a strong magnetic field until they reach fusion temperatures greater than 100M degrees Celsius (150M already achieved). At this temperature, the deuterium and helium-3 ions are moving fast enough to surpass the forces that would otherwise keep them apart, and they fuse. This emits more energy than is consumed by the fusion process. As new fusion energy is generated, the plasma enlarges.
Helion Energy uses fusion energy to provide pure, safe electricity. Helion's fusion generator elevates fusion (Deuterium and helium-3) fuel to ultra-high temperatures to achieve plasma conditions and directly obtains electricity with a high-efficiency pulsed approach. Magnets confine the plasma in a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) and speed up two FRCs to 1 million mph from opposite ends of the generator. When the FRCs collide in the center of the system, they are further compressed by a strong magnetic field until they reach fusion temperatures greater than 100M degrees Celsius (150M already achieved). At this temperature, the deuterium and helium-3 ions are moving fast enough to surpass the forces that would otherwise keep them apart, and they fuse. This emits more energy than is consumed by the fusion process. As new fusion energy is generated, the plasma enlarges.
8
Country: USA | Funding: $77.3M
Star Catcher is creating the first space power grid - an orbital power transmission system designed for wireless optical (laser) power transmission to satellites and spacecraft. This grid could reduce the need for larger onboard solar arrays and batteries, extend mission life, and enable more energy-intensive applications in orbit. Star Catcher's laser receivers are small and lightweight, and can be installed without major modifications to the satellite's structure. The company has already completed an in-orbit demonstration of the subsystem and, according to the company, set a world record for optical power transmission.
Star Catcher is creating the first space power grid - an orbital power transmission system designed for wireless optical (laser) power transmission to satellites and spacecraft. This grid could reduce the need for larger onboard solar arrays and batteries, extend mission life, and enable more energy-intensive applications in orbit. Star Catcher's laser receivers are small and lightweight, and can be installed without major modifications to the satellite's structure. The company has already completed an in-orbit demonstration of the subsystem and, according to the company, set a world record for optical power transmission.
9
Country: USA | Funding: $361.7M
Focused Energy is developing fusion reactor that uses lasers to compress fuel an approach known as inertial confinement. Lasers strike a fuel target, which is compressed by the laser radiation, creating conditions favorable for fusion. When the atoms within the fuel finally fuse, they release a significant amount of energy. The company bases its design on an experiment conducted at the National Fusion Facility which remains the first and only one to create a controlled nuclear fusion reaction that released more energy than it took to start it. Focused Energy is working on simplifying the fuel target. One simplification involves eliminating the hohlraum - the high-precision gold cylinder that converts laser energy into X-rays.
Focused Energy is developing fusion reactor that uses lasers to compress fuel an approach known as inertial confinement. Lasers strike a fuel target, which is compressed by the laser radiation, creating conditions favorable for fusion. When the atoms within the fuel finally fuse, they release a significant amount of energy. The company bases its design on an experiment conducted at the National Fusion Facility which remains the first and only one to create a controlled nuclear fusion reaction that released more energy than it took to start it. Focused Energy is working on simplifying the fuel target. One simplification involves eliminating the hohlraum - the high-precision gold cylinder that converts laser energy into X-rays.
10
Country: USA | Funding: $484.7M
Mach is developing a suite of hydrogen-powered platforms and munitions for the military, including unmanned aerial vehicles and hydrogen generation systems.
Mach is developing a suite of hydrogen-powered platforms and munitions for the military, including unmanned aerial vehicles and hydrogen generation systems.
