New and recently funded Energy Startups
1
Country: USA
Global Laser Enrichment is an energy company that develops laser uranium enrichment technology for nuclear fuel production. Lasers produce precise wavelengths of light, which can then be used to increase the energy of atomic or molecular species consisting of a specific isotope, changing their properties and allowing them to be separated. In the case of uranium, the U-235 isotopes are selectively excited and harvested separately from the more common U-238 isotopes, resulting in an increased concentration of U-235 over the initial uranium feedstock. The enriched product can then be used to produce fuel for generating nuclear energy, including for new reactor types that require higher enrichment levels. GLE is the exclusive worldwide licensee of the highly efficient SILEX uranium enrichment process, invented by Australian company Silex Systems, GLE’s 51% owner.
Global Laser Enrichment is an energy company that develops laser uranium enrichment technology for nuclear fuel production. Lasers produce precise wavelengths of light, which can then be used to increase the energy of atomic or molecular species consisting of a specific isotope, changing their properties and allowing them to be separated. In the case of uranium, the U-235 isotopes are selectively excited and harvested separately from the more common U-238 isotopes, resulting in an increased concentration of U-235 over the initial uranium feedstock. The enriched product can then be used to produce fuel for generating nuclear energy, including for new reactor types that require higher enrichment levels. GLE is the exclusive worldwide licensee of the highly efficient SILEX uranium enrichment process, invented by Australian company Silex Systems, GLE’s 51% owner.
2
Country: USA | Funding: $5M
Grounded builds highly reliable, fully electric recreational vehicles for self-sustainability on the road.
Grounded builds highly reliable, fully electric recreational vehicles for self-sustainability on the road.
3
Country: Japan | Funding: ¥22.3B
Kyoto Fusioneering is developing fusion reactor, called Unity-3, to test a fuel cycle technology known as a breeding blanket (that harvest energy from the reactor while also generating fresh fusion fuel). The breeding blanket design will use liquid lithium, which will absorb both heat and neutrons. As the lithium atoms in the blanket are bombarded with neutrons, they split into helium and tritium, an isotope of hydrogen that’s an important fuel for many reactor designs. The tritium is then separated from the blanket and sent to the reactor, while heat is extracted to generate power. Kyoto Fusioneering is also developing systems to heat fusion fuel into a plasma, recycle unburned fuel from the exhaust, and harvest heat to generate electricity.
Kyoto Fusioneering is developing fusion reactor, called Unity-3, to test a fuel cycle technology known as a breeding blanket (that harvest energy from the reactor while also generating fresh fusion fuel). The breeding blanket design will use liquid lithium, which will absorb both heat and neutrons. As the lithium atoms in the blanket are bombarded with neutrons, they split into helium and tritium, an isotope of hydrogen that’s an important fuel for many reactor designs. The tritium is then separated from the blanket and sent to the reactor, while heat is extracted to generate power. Kyoto Fusioneering is also developing systems to heat fusion fuel into a plasma, recycle unburned fuel from the exhaust, and harvest heat to generate electricity.
4
Country: France | Funding: €33M
Stellaria is looking to develop an energy system based on the molten chloride fast reactor (MCFR) technology. It's a liquid-core 250 MWe reactor capable of renewing 100% of its fuel during operation, incinerating long-lived high-level waste and achieving revolutionary levels of intrinsic safety. Its low-pressure operation ensures maximum safety. Installing the reactor several metres underground provides failproof protection against earthquakes and overhead winds. Reactor power self-adapts to demand: under the effect of heat, the liquid fuel expands, slowing down the reaction. The reactor produces both electricity and heat. The startup says they developed one of the most efficient turbines on the market that reaches 45% efficiency.
Stellaria is looking to develop an energy system based on the molten chloride fast reactor (MCFR) technology. It's a liquid-core 250 MWe reactor capable of renewing 100% of its fuel during operation, incinerating long-lived high-level waste and achieving revolutionary levels of intrinsic safety. Its low-pressure operation ensures maximum safety. Installing the reactor several metres underground provides failproof protection against earthquakes and overhead winds. Reactor power self-adapts to demand: under the effect of heat, the liquid fuel expands, slowing down the reaction. The reactor produces both electricity and heat. The startup says they developed one of the most efficient turbines on the market that reaches 45% efficiency.
5
Country: USA | Funding: $250K
Virtus Solis has designed the world's first space-based solar power energy generation system. It consists of satellite arrays collect solar power and convert to microwaves that transmit solar power to the ground. Ground stations rectennas gather microwave energy and convert back to electricity. Satellites are grouped into massive arrays - 100,000 satellites for 100MW, allowing for a highly scalable energy platform. Arrays can grow to 20 Gigawatt or more. Satellites are in sunlight all of the time with long dwell time over the northern/southern hemisphere due to orbital characteristics. Microwaves pass through atmosphere and weather with nearly no loss.
Virtus Solis has designed the world's first space-based solar power energy generation system. It consists of satellite arrays collect solar power and convert to microwaves that transmit solar power to the ground. Ground stations rectennas gather microwave energy and convert back to electricity. Satellites are grouped into massive arrays - 100,000 satellites for 100MW, allowing for a highly scalable energy platform. Arrays can grow to 20 Gigawatt or more. Satellites are in sunlight all of the time with long dwell time over the northern/southern hemisphere due to orbital characteristics. Microwaves pass through atmosphere and weather with nearly no loss.
6
Country: Latvia | Funding: €450K
Deep Space Energy is developing a new radioactive generator technology for the European space and defense industry, which will ultimately power lunar exploration. DSE's generators use radioisotopes - materials derived from nuclear waste - to generate heat through natural decay. The solution converts this heat into electrical energy, requiring five times less radioisotope fuel than thermoelectric generators currently used in space. The generator is used to back up satellite power systems, providing backup power independent of solar energy, making it critical for important military reconnaissance assets. The work is funded by government contracts and grants from the European Space Agency, NATO's DIANA program, and the Latvian government.
Deep Space Energy is developing a new radioactive generator technology for the European space and defense industry, which will ultimately power lunar exploration. DSE's generators use radioisotopes - materials derived from nuclear waste - to generate heat through natural decay. The solution converts this heat into electrical energy, requiring five times less radioisotope fuel than thermoelectric generators currently used in space. The generator is used to back up satellite power systems, providing backup power independent of solar energy, making it critical for important military reconnaissance assets. The work is funded by government contracts and grants from the European Space Agency, NATO's DIANA program, and the Latvian government.
7
Country: USA | Funding: $2.5M
FANCO was founded by a team of nuclear energy veterans led by Bill Stokes, who have implemented some of the most advanced nuclear projects in US history. Their 240 MW EAGL-1 reactor is a modular and reliable reactor based on proven low-pressure fast reactor technology, optimized for modern energy needs. It uses safe and environmentally friendly lead-bismuth coolant and operates in the fast neutron spectrum, extracting more energy from fuel and reducing waste for a cleaner future. The EAGL-1's optimized design eliminates the need for expensive intermediate systems and containment vessels, reduces mechanical complexity, and improves overall system reliability. That means the potential for faster deployment and dramatically lower front-end fuel cycle costs. FANCO plans to build its own Nuclear Plant Powered by Its Own Waste in Indiana by 2032.
FANCO was founded by a team of nuclear energy veterans led by Bill Stokes, who have implemented some of the most advanced nuclear projects in US history. Their 240 MW EAGL-1 reactor is a modular and reliable reactor based on proven low-pressure fast reactor technology, optimized for modern energy needs. It uses safe and environmentally friendly lead-bismuth coolant and operates in the fast neutron spectrum, extracting more energy from fuel and reducing waste for a cleaner future. The EAGL-1's optimized design eliminates the need for expensive intermediate systems and containment vessels, reduces mechanical complexity, and improves overall system reliability. That means the potential for faster deployment and dramatically lower front-end fuel cycle costs. FANCO plans to build its own Nuclear Plant Powered by Its Own Waste in Indiana by 2032.
8
Country: Sweden | Funding: $57.3M
Blykalla is developing and building small modular lead-cooled fast reactor. Its design is based on 25+ years of research. It's a passively safe reactor designed for commercial power production in a highly compact format. Its fuel is never replaced during operation, which minimizes costs related to fuel management. The integrity of steel surfaces exposed to liquid lead is ensured by use of alumina forming alloys. Passive safety is ensured by removal of decay heat from the core by natural convection of the lead coolant. The startup has submitted Sweden's first application to build an advanced nuclear reactor park at Norrsundet. Together, the reactors will deliver around 330 MW of clean baseload power.
Blykalla is developing and building small modular lead-cooled fast reactor. Its design is based on 25+ years of research. It's a passively safe reactor designed for commercial power production in a highly compact format. Its fuel is never replaced during operation, which minimizes costs related to fuel management. The integrity of steel surfaces exposed to liquid lead is ensured by use of alumina forming alloys. Passive safety is ensured by removal of decay heat from the core by natural convection of the lead coolant. The startup has submitted Sweden's first application to build an advanced nuclear reactor park at Norrsundet. Together, the reactors will deliver around 330 MW of clean baseload power.
9
Country: India | Funding: $3M
Hylenr develops Low Energy Nuclear Reactor (LENR, aka cold fusion) that enables nuclear interactions within engineered metal lattices that operate near controlled conditions and by using accessible materials. It works by loading hydrogen isotopes into a solid metal lattice and using targeted excitation to trigger fusion reactions at manageable scales. Energy is generated via elemental transmutation - fusion and fission of host material. The reactor emits no radiation - just heat.
Hylenr develops Low Energy Nuclear Reactor (LENR, aka cold fusion) that enables nuclear interactions within engineered metal lattices that operate near controlled conditions and by using accessible materials. It works by loading hydrogen isotopes into a solid metal lattice and using targeted excitation to trigger fusion reactions at manageable scales. Energy is generated via elemental transmutation - fusion and fission of host material. The reactor emits no radiation - just heat.
10
Country: USA | Funding: $5.5M
Transatomic Power is a nuclear reactor design company offering a waste-annihilating molten salt reactor. Its fueled by uranium dissolved in a liquid salt. The fuel is not surrounded by cladding, making it possible to continuously remove the fission products that would otherwise stop the nuclear reaction. Its design uses a zirconium hydride moderator, which is much more effective at slowing down neutrons than graphite. Instead of classic lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride salt it uses lithium fluoride – uranium fluoride salt, which can hold about 27 times as much uranium. Having more uranium in the salt, coupled with having more salt in the core, enables to maintain criticality using commercially-available low-enriched uranium (5%).
Transatomic Power is a nuclear reactor design company offering a waste-annihilating molten salt reactor. Its fueled by uranium dissolved in a liquid salt. The fuel is not surrounded by cladding, making it possible to continuously remove the fission products that would otherwise stop the nuclear reaction. Its design uses a zirconium hydride moderator, which is much more effective at slowing down neutrons than graphite. Instead of classic lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride salt it uses lithium fluoride – uranium fluoride salt, which can hold about 27 times as much uranium. Having more uranium in the salt, coupled with having more salt in the core, enables to maintain criticality using commercially-available low-enriched uranium (5%).
