ARPA-E brings together top minds in energy research, development, and commercialization to explore high-risk, high-reward technologies that could change what’s possible in how we use, generate, and store energy. Our team of Fellows – early-career Ph.D. scientists and engineers who assist with program creation, agency strategy, and outreach – actively help shape the strategic direction and vision of an agency devoted exclusively to transformational energy technology research and development, all while undertaking their own independent explorations of promising future research areas for the…

Ion Storage Systems (ION) recently raised more than $30 million in its Series A funding round for their novel approach to solid-state batteries. The funding round included several investors, including Toyota Ventures. Their recently announced investment will enable ION to establish a battery cell manufacturing line for their next-generation solid-state batteries. Funds raised in the Series A round will also drive the company’s current development projects forward in the consumer electronics, automotive, and stationary storage markets. ARPA-E first funded the team as a University of…

Former ARPA-E Program Director Dr. Ilan Gur was today announced as the inaugural CEO of the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA). ARIA represents an ambitious undertaking by the UK government to invest in science research. Similar to ARPA-E, ARIA will focus on high-risk, transformative energy and science projects. Their high-risk research focus will allow ARIA to invest in scientific discovery that could create paradigm shifts in a number of fields. ARIA will operate with a “programme manager” model where technical experts design, develop, and manage their own research…

Update: July 2022 After raising $27.5 million in their Series B fundraising round in May 2021, Zap Energy recently announced they raised an additional $160 million in follow-on funding. Lowercarbon Capital led their Series C funding round, with additional investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Shell Ventures, DCVC, and Valor Equity Partners. The Zap Energy team also announced a major technical milestone last month. Zap Energy created the first plasma in their FuZE-Q prototype. With the roughly $200 million in additional funding Zap has secured since 2017 and the first plasma…

The 2022 ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit was packed full of interesting and insightful discussion from speakers across industry, academia, and government. Photos from the Summit are now available on the Summit website and videos from the Summit are included below to help you relive all the excitement in Denver. Monday, May 23rd We kicked off the Summit with keynote addresses from Dr. Jennifer Gerbi, Acting Director and Deputy Director for Technology at ARPA-E, and the Honorable Michael B. Hancock, Mayor of Denver. Following these keynote addresses was Dr. David Horsup,…

ARPA-E recently welcomed Dr. Nick Goeser as the federal Tech-to-Market (T2M) advisor for our agriculture technology portfolio. We sat down with Dr. Goeser ahead of ARPA-E’s upcoming carbon farming workshop to discuss his perspectives on the current state of domestic agriculture, and how ARPA-E can play a role in transforming the industry to better meet the needs of our society. Q: You recently joined the T2M team at ARPA-E. What were you doing before joining ARPA-E and what motivated you to join the team? A: Prior to ARPA-E my experience has largely focused on agriculture technology and…

The land-based counterparts of our oceans’ most notorious carnivores, the hungry entrepreneurs from popular reality TV show Shark Tank, recently had their mouths watering at a new product developed by ARPA-E awardee Umaro Foods. Their innovation, plant-based bacon, comes from an unexpected protein source: ocean-farmed seaweed. Umaro recently brought their plant-based bacon for a high-profile taste test on Shark Tank. After enthusiastically pitching their seaweed bacon to the Sharks, including a detailed explanation of how the future of plant-based protein could be found in the ocean, Umaro…

Heirloom Carbon Technologies recently announced $53 million in follow-on funding for their direct air capture (DAC) technology raised from investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Heirloom’s technology leverages carbon mineralization, taking naturally available rocks and minerals with a propensity to absorb CO2 and increasing their speed and ability to do so. This promising method includes a repeated enhanced weathering process, in which a natural reaction between CO2 in air and magnesium- and/or calcium-rich minerals is accelerated to form a solid carbonate that can be processed…

In our final day at the 2022 ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit, we started with ‘Coffee with ARPA-E,’ a continuation of yesterday’s event where folks had the opportunity to network with and learn from ARPA-E leadership, program directors, tech-to-market advisors, and fellows about opportunities related to ARPA-E and discussions about moving transformational technologies out of the lab and into the market. Following ‘Coffee with ARPA-E,’ morning breakout sessions consisted of three panels on government funding, decarbonization, and electric grid infrastructure. Breakout panels included…

Day 2 of the 2022 ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit began with ‘Coffee with ARPA-E,’ where attendees had the opportunity to network with ARPA-E leadership, program directors, tech-to-market advisors, and fellows on the future of energy innovation and technology. (Coffee with ARPA-E) Following ‘Coffee with ARPA-E,’ morning breakout sessions consisted of ARPA-E’s fast pitches and two panels on nuclear energy and energy opportunities in defense. Fast pitches and breakout panels included: Fast Pitch: Carbon, moderated by Dr. Jack Lewnard, Program Director (PD) at ARPA-E, and…