Breakthrough Energy

Breakthrough Energy is an impact investment firm based in Kirkland, Washington, established in 2016. The firm focuses on making minority investments in seed-stage, early-stage, and later-stage companies within the environmental services and cleantech sectors. Guided by scientific and technological expertise, Breakthrough Energy aims to support the development of innovative solutions that provide reliable and affordable power while addressing climate change. The firm is committed to investing patiently in transformative technologies that enhance the way people live, eat, travel, and build, ensuring that these advancements do not contribute to global warming.

Tara Bansal

Investment Principal and Company Builder, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Jim Cabot

Managing Director, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Priscilla Chan MD

Co-Founder, Breakthrough Energy Coalition

Quinn Cornelius

Senior Director, Strategic Investments

Christian Garcia

Managing Director and Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

William Gates Jr.

Co-Founder, Breakthrough Energy Coalition and Investor

Christina Karapataki

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Sila Kiliccote

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Allegra Kowalewski-Ferreira

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Phil Larochell

Principal

Phil Larochelle Ph.D

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Jack Ma

Founder and Investor

Brian Mayers Ph.D

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Christopher Poirier

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Juilia Reinaud

Senior Director

Cooper Rinzler Ph.D

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Christopher Rivest

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Eric Toone

Executive Managing Director

Libby Wayman

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Stefan Zlatev

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Julia Reinaud Ph.D

Senior Director, Europe

Past deals in Electricity

HyperHeat

Pre Seed Round in 2024
HyperHeat is developing an innovative all-electric heating solution capable of achieving temperatures up to 2,000°C, utilizing renewable electricity to provide an efficient alternative to fossil fuel combustion. With an impressive efficiency rate of up to 98%, HyperHeat's technology is particularly suited for retrofitting industrial processes, facilitating significant reductions in CO2 emissions across sectors such as steel, cement, and chemicals. The scalable nature of the technology offers a cost-effective means to decarbonize thermal processes, with the potential to lower global CO2 emissions by over 4.5 gigatons annually. Currently operating in stealth mode, HyperHeat aims to support energy-intensive industries in their transition to zero carbon emissions, addressing the urgent challenge of climate change.

TS Conductor

Venture Round in 2024
TS Conductor focuses on high-performance conductors designed for modern power grids, utilizing innovative transmission technology that features a carbon-fiber-composite core instead of traditional steel. This advancement results in conductors that are both lighter and stronger, enabling them to carry greater electrical currents with reduced energy loss and enhanced efficiency. The company manufactures covered conductors with an aluminum encapsulation, which safeguards the composite core from damage and corrosion. This design not only increases the capacity and reliability of electricity transmission and distribution but also promotes sustainability within the energy sector in a cost-effective manner.

Equilibrium Energy

Funding Round in 2023
Equilibrium Energy operates at the intersection of grid variability, market volatility, economic optimization, commercial structuring, trading, and risk management, across the end-to-end power value chain. Their ambition is to become a next-generation clean power company that reshapes the energy industry. They address inquiries through online applications.

Fourth Power

Series A in 2023
Fourth Power is an energy storage startup that specializes in thermal battery technology. The company focuses on utility-scale thermal storage, which converts wasted wind and solar energy into an on-demand power source. Its modular storage system is designed to meet immediate energy needs while also adapting to future renewable energy deployment. This flexibility enables clients to provide grid operators with control over the timing and usage of stored energy, facilitating the transition towards a fully decarbonized energy infrastructure. Fourth Power's solutions aim to enhance grid reliability by offering both short-duration and long-duration energy storage options.

Equilibrium Energy

Series A in 2023
Equilibrium Energy operates at the intersection of grid variability, market volatility, economic optimization, commercial structuring, trading, and risk management, across the end-to-end power value chain. Their ambition is to become a next-generation clean power company that reshapes the energy industry. They address inquiries through online applications.

VEIR

Series A in 2023
VEIR is a company developing a new approach to using high-temperature superconductors for electricity transmission. Its passive evaporative cryogenic cooling delivers 20 times the cooling power per kilogram of nitrogen flow compared to mechanical subcooling.

Terabase

Series B in 2022
Terabase Energy, Inc. is a company specializing in automation and digital solutions for utility-scale solar projects. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Berkeley, California, with an additional office in Melbourne, Australia, Terabase offers a cloud-based artificial intelligence platform that facilitates collaboration on digital project models. The company’s proprietary software is utilized by over 400 entities, including engineering, procurement, and construction firms, developers, and independent power producers across 28 countries. By providing technical advisory and engineering services, Terabase aims to reduce costs and accelerate the deployment of large solar projects, thereby enhancing scalability and efficiency in the solar energy sector.

Zap Energy

Series C in 2022
Zap Energy, Inc., founded in 2017 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, specializes in the design and manufacture of sheared-flow stabilized Z-Pinch fusion reactors for power generation. The company’s innovative technology utilizes electric currents to create magnetic fields that confine and compress plasma, enabling efficient energy production through nuclear fusion. This approach offers a low-carbon, cost-effective, and flexible power source while requiring less capital investment compared to traditional fusion methods. By focusing on compact and scalable fusion technology, Zap Energy aims to advance sustainable energy solutions and improve the economics of fusion energy.

SparkMeter

Venture Round in 2022
SparkMeter, Inc. designs electricity metering systems and grid management software aimed at enhancing electricity access in underserved markets, particularly rural areas. Founded in 2012 and based in Washington, D.C., with an office in Nairobi, Kenya, the company offers a range of metering products tailored to different customer needs, including residential and commercial users. Its solutions include the SM16R, SM60R, SM60RP, and SM200E models, which cater to various consumption levels. In addition to hardware, SparkMeter provides software solutions that facilitate prepaid billing, customer communication, and remote monitoring, thus improving grid efficiency and asset performance. By enabling utilities to automate operations, manage loads, and integrate renewable energy sources, SparkMeter helps communities access sustainable and reliable electricity.

TS Conductor

Series A in 2021
TS Conductor focuses on high-performance conductors designed for modern power grids, utilizing innovative transmission technology that features a carbon-fiber-composite core instead of traditional steel. This advancement results in conductors that are both lighter and stronger, enabling them to carry greater electrical currents with reduced energy loss and enhanced efficiency. The company manufactures covered conductors with an aluminum encapsulation, which safeguards the composite core from damage and corrosion. This design not only increases the capacity and reliability of electricity transmission and distribution but also promotes sustainability within the energy sector in a cost-effective manner.

Natel Energy

Series B in 2021
Natel Energy, Inc. develops and sells restoration hydro turbines (RHTs) designed for low head settings to generate renewable electricity from various water sources, including existing low dams, irrigation canals, and streams. These turbines can be installed in existing infrastructure, improving the efficiency of older units and ensuring compliance with environmental standards. The company also offers digital services that enhance operational efficiency and reduce risks for hydropower stakeholders, utilizing machine learning and remote sensing technologies. Additionally, Natel Energy provides HydroForecast, which employs satellite imagery and advanced modeling to deliver accurate hydrological forecasts. Founded in 2005 and based in Alameda, California, Natel Energy aims to support the transition to sustainable energy through innovative hydropower solutions that contribute to a low-carbon grid.

Electric Hydrogen

Series A in 2021
Electric Hydrogen is a company focused on developing low-cost, high-efficiency, fossil-free hydrogen systems aimed at decarbonizing industrial sectors such as ammonia and steel production, which are significant contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions. By rethinking electrolysis, Electric Hydrogen seeks to make clean hydrogen competitive with traditional, fossil-fuel-based hydrogen in terms of cost and scalability. The company's advanced PEM technology utilizes low-cost renewable electricity to produce clean hydrogen gas, thereby helping industries reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and minimize pollution. With a leadership team experienced in transformative clean energy companies, Electric Hydrogen is positioned to address current challenges in efficiency and cost, contributing to the goal of a zero-emission industrial sector in the near future.

Ecocem Ireland

Venture Round in 2021
Ecocem Ireland is a cement manufacturing company that specializes in producing low-carbon cementitious products, specifically Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) and CEM III-A technology. Their eco-friendly cement is created using slag from steel furnaces through an advanced process that significantly reduces carbon emissions compared to traditional methods. This innovation allows concrete companies to decrease environmental pollutants while conserving electricity and natural resources. In addition to their manufacturing capabilities, Ecocem Ireland also offers architectural design services to their clients, who can reach the company through phone, email, and online applications.

VEIR

Series A in 2021
VEIR is a company developing a new approach to using high-temperature superconductors for electricity transmission. Its passive evaporative cryogenic cooling delivers 20 times the cooling power per kilogram of nitrogen flow compared to mechanical subcooling.

Blip Energy

Grant in 2021
Blip Energy is focused on developing innovative battery energy storage systems to address rising peak demand and enhance the smart grid infrastructure. The company offers a smart, plug-and-play battery system that leverages artificial intelligence to help households reduce electric bills while providing essential backup power. By creating a distributed network of Internet of Things (IoT) batteries, Blip Energy aims to empower grid operators with the necessary tools and data to stabilize the grid and optimize energy costs for users. Their solutions facilitate energy management without the complexities of permitting and installation, aligning with current needs for resilience and cost savings. Blip Energy's approach supports the transition to a more sustainable, efficient, and reliable power grid for all.

Form Energy

Series C in 2020
Form Energy, Inc. specializes in the development of long-duration energy storage systems aimed at enhancing the reliability of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. Founded in 2017 and based in Somerville, Massachusetts, the company focuses on creating low-cost battery systems, including its innovative iron-air battery technology, which allows for energy storage over extended periods. This capability enables the dispatch of renewable energy throughout the year, effectively replacing traditional fossil fuel-based generation and contributing to the decarbonization of the electric grid. Additionally, Form Energy offers Formware, a capacity expansion software tool designed to optimize energy management. The company's technological advancements are rooted in research from MIT and are supported by various investors committed to sustainable energy solutions.

SparkMeter

Series A in 2020
SparkMeter, Inc. designs electricity metering systems and grid management software aimed at enhancing electricity access in underserved markets, particularly rural areas. Founded in 2012 and based in Washington, D.C., with an office in Nairobi, Kenya, the company offers a range of metering products tailored to different customer needs, including residential and commercial users. Its solutions include the SM16R, SM60R, SM60RP, and SM200E models, which cater to various consumption levels. In addition to hardware, SparkMeter provides software solutions that facilitate prepaid billing, customer communication, and remote monitoring, thus improving grid efficiency and asset performance. By enabling utilities to automate operations, manage loads, and integrate renewable energy sources, SparkMeter helps communities access sustainable and reliable electricity.

Natel Energy

Venture Round in 2020
Natel Energy, Inc. develops and sells restoration hydro turbines (RHTs) designed for low head settings to generate renewable electricity from various water sources, including existing low dams, irrigation canals, and streams. These turbines can be installed in existing infrastructure, improving the efficiency of older units and ensuring compliance with environmental standards. The company also offers digital services that enhance operational efficiency and reduce risks for hydropower stakeholders, utilizing machine learning and remote sensing technologies. Additionally, Natel Energy provides HydroForecast, which employs satellite imagery and advanced modeling to deliver accurate hydrological forecasts. Founded in 2005 and based in Alameda, California, Natel Energy aims to support the transition to sustainable energy through innovative hydropower solutions that contribute to a low-carbon grid.

Form Energy

Series B in 2019
Form Energy, Inc. specializes in the development of long-duration energy storage systems aimed at enhancing the reliability of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. Founded in 2017 and based in Somerville, Massachusetts, the company focuses on creating low-cost battery systems, including its innovative iron-air battery technology, which allows for energy storage over extended periods. This capability enables the dispatch of renewable energy throughout the year, effectively replacing traditional fossil fuel-based generation and contributing to the decarbonization of the electric grid. Additionally, Form Energy offers Formware, a capacity expansion software tool designed to optimize energy management. The company's technological advancements are rooted in research from MIT and are supported by various investors committed to sustainable energy solutions.
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