Brillouin Energy
Brillouin Energy is a private clean energy company that develops Low Energy Nuclear Reaction (LENR) thermal energy systems based on its proprietary Controlled Electron Capture Reaction (CECR) process, licensing the technology to industrial OEMs and commercial licensees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersBerkeley, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Brillouin Energy does
Brillouin Energy Corp is a privately held Delaware-incorporated clean energy technology company that develops Low Energy Nuclear Reaction (LENR) thermal energy systems based on its proprietary Controlled Electron Capture Reaction (CECR) process. The company's core technology comprises the Hydrogen Hot Tube (HHT) reactor, which loads hydrogen gas into engineered nickel cores within a pressure vessel, and the Q-Pulse electronic pulse generator that stimulates and controls the CECR reaction. Hydrogen Hot Tube systems are designed to operate between 500°C and 700°C, while the WET boiler system targets lower-temperature applications. SRI International independently confirmed a peak coefficient of performance of 4.13X in January 2015 and a consistent COP range of 1.5X to 1.6X in 2017 testing, with over 100 independent experiments confirming heat effects since 2010. Patents have been granted in the EU, China, and the United States covering the CECR apparatus and method.
The company monetizes its technology through a licensing model targeted at industrial OEMs, with revenue streams consisting of initial contract fees, annual license fees, and royalties on licensee products. Licensing rights are structured across thermal output tiers (lowest power to 600W, 600W to 1KW, 1KW to 500KW, and greater than 500KW), geographic regions, applications (hot water, steam heat, process heat, power generation, desalination), and end-user segments (residential, commercial, industrial). Target customers include industrial process heat users, energy infrastructure and defense applications, and residential/commercial building heating markets. The company has executed two paid commercial licenses, the most recent being an agreement with an Asia-Pacific industrial group in July 2018.
Brillouin Energy operates from a 37,200 ft² pilot manufacturing and development facility in Emeryville, California, and employs approximately 12 scientific, engineering, and executive professionals. The company was founded in January 2009 by Robert Godes (previously Profusion Energy) and has financed operations through private equity offerings to accredited investors, contribution of services for equity, early customer license revenue, and non-profit grant funding, with disclosed Series A ($2.5M, 2012) and Series B ($7.75M, 2017) rounds representing approximately $10.25M in cumulative equity raised. Leadership comprises Robert W. George II as CEO, Robert Godes as Founder, President and CTO, David Firshein as CFO and VP of Business Development, and Greg Knight as Executive Chairman (appointed May 2026).
Brillouin Energy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Brillouin Energy
- Legal name
- Brillouin Energy Corporation
- Website
- https://brillouinenergy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Brillouin Energy is a private clean energy company that develops Low Energy Nuclear Reaction (LENR) thermal energy systems based on its proprietary Controlled Electron Capture Reaction (CECR) process, licensing the technology to industrial OEMs and commercial licensees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Brillouin Energy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Clean Energy Thermal Reactor Systems
- NAICS
- Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing (332410), Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply (22133), Electric Power Generation (22111)
- SIC
- Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991), Heating Equipment, Except Electric & Warm Air Furnaces (3433), Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens (3567)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Gen IV / Advanced Reactor Systems (SFR, LFR, GFR, MSR, HTGR, Microreactors) (EUAKADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Onsite Low-Carbon Heat & CHP (Electrified CHP, Fuel Cells, Renewable CHP) (EUABAJAI)
Keywords
Where Brillouin Energy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berkeley
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Brillouin Energy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing: Initial contract fees, annual license fees, and percentage of sales (royalties) on products using proprietary CECR process technologies. Qualified OEMs and partners pay for rights to design and develop products using Brillouin Energy's technology for commercial market applications.
- Private Equity Offerings: Series of private offerings of stock to accredited investors. The company completed a Series A round ($2.5M in 2012) and Series B round ($7.75M in 2017). Was in discussions to raise $15M Series C as of 2017.
- Non-Profit Grant Funding: Venture philanthropy and non-profit grant funding mentioned as financing source.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Thermal output tiers for licensing: lowest power to 600W, low power 600W to 1KW, mid-power 1KW to 500KW, high power greater than 500KW |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Brillouin Energy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Brillouin Energy develops and licenses proprietary Low Energy Nuclear Reaction (LENR) thermal energy systems based on its Controlled Electron Capture Reaction (CECR) process, commercialized through the Hydrogen Hot Tube (HHT) reactor and Q-Pulse control system. The company manufactures pilot reactors at its Emeryville facility and licenses the underlying CECR technology to industrial OEMs and partners that build conventional-style boiler systems, process heat equipment, and power generation systems for residential, commercial, and industrial end-users. Revenue is generated through initial contract fees, annual license fees, and product royalties paid by licensees across four thermal output tiers from sub-600W to above 500KW.
Product overview
Brillouin Energy Corp is a developer of data-driven clean thermal energy systems based on Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR). The company's proprietary portfolio consists of two main product lines: the Hydrogen Hot Tube (HHT) Reactor System and the Q-Pulse Control System. The HHT system is a high-temperature boiler (500-700°C) that generates thermal energy through controlled nuclear reactions using hydrogen and nickel. The Q-Pulse is an electronic pulse generator that stimulates and controls the CECR (Controlled Electron Capture Reaction) process, functioning like a thermostat with ON/OFF capability. The company also offers WET (low temperature) and HHT (high temperature) boiler systems for licensing to industrial OEMs. The technology produces zero emissions, zero pollution, and no radiation, with applications in industrial process heat, district energy, distributed power, and desalination.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hydrogen Hot Tube (HHT): Proprietary reactor system designed to produce safe, zero-emission heat source for industrial process heat, district energy, and distributed power applications. Also known as HYDROGEN HOT TUBE boiler system.
- Q-Pulse
- WET
- CECR
Products and services
- Hydrogen Hot Tube (HHT) Reactor System Proprietary isoperibolic hydrogen hot tube reactor system that generates controlled Low Energy Nuclear Reaction heat using hydrogen gas loaded into engineered nickel cores within a pressure vessel, catalyzed by the Q-Pulse generator; operates between 500°C and 700°C. Targeted at industrial OEMs and partners for industrial process heat, district energy, and distributed power applications.
- Q-Pulse Control System Proprietary electronic pulse generator that stimulates and controls Controlled Electron Capture Reactions (CECR) on demand in HHT and WET reactor systems. Functions like a thermostat — heat is generated when the control signal is applied, output can be tuned to a desired temperature and power gain, and production stops when the signal is removed. Sold as part of Brillouin's CECR technology licensing package to OEM licensees.
- WET Boiler System Low temperature LENR boiler system using a wet electrolyte containing hydrogen with an engineered metallic core constructed from nickel, catalyzed by the Q-Pulse generator. Designed for licensing to industrial OEMs and partners building conventional boiler products for residential, commercial, and industrial hot water and hydronic heating.
- HHT Boiler System High temperature LENR boiler system designed to operate at 500°C to 700°C using hydrogen gas with an engineered nickel catalyst and the Q-Pulse control system. Targeted at industrial OEMs producing high-quality process heat for power generation, industrial heat processes, and desalination.
- HHT Power Plant Power generation system configuration utilizing the Hydrogen Hot Tube reactor technology to drive steam turbine systems for distributed electricity generation. Sold as part of Brillouin's CECR technology licensing package to industrial OEMs and energy infrastructure partners.
- CECR Technology Licensing Program Structured B2B licensing program offering qualified OEMs and industrial partners the right to design, manufacture, distribute, and sell products incorporating Brillouin's proprietary CECR process technologies. Pricing is segmented across four thermal output tiers (sub-600W, 600W-1KW, 1KW-500KW, >500KW) and further differentiated by application (hot water, steam heat, process heat), end-user (residential, commercial, industrial), and geography. Fees include an initial contract payment, annual license fees, and royalties on licensee product sales under multi-year contracts.
Quantifiable outcome
- COP exceeding 4X demonstrated (4.13X peak coefficient of performance)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Brillouin Energy
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Brillouin Energy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Brillouin Energy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Asia-Pacific Industrial GroupcoreSecond paid commercial license for CECR technology rights sold to a leading industrial group within the Asia-Pacific region. This represents the company's commercial sales breakthrough.
- SRI InternationalcoreFormal Research Agreement with SRI International's Energy Research Center laboratory in Menlo Park, California from August 2012 to July 2018. SRI scientists Dr. Michael McKubre and Dr. Francis Tanzella provided independent verification and validation of Brillouin's test results, advised on calorimetry system design, and contributed to three consecutive SRI Technical Progress Reports. After the agreement ended, both scientists joined Brillouin's Technical Advisory Board.
- PNNL (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)minorConducted a successful Technical Assistance Program (TAP) with PNNL which provided high level insight and probable validation of the electron capture mechanism underlying the CECR process.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Brillouin Energy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Leonardo Corporation: Developer of the E-Cat (Energy Catalyzer), one of the most prominent LENR/cold fusion reactor programs. Direct peer because both pursue nickel-hydrogen LENR reactions for commercial heat generation with similar technology licensing ambitions.
Emerging players
- Defkalion Green Technologies: Earlier-stage LENR developer pursuing nickel-hydrogen reactor technology. Emerging peer because it overlaps with Brillouin's core CECR/LENR approach but has had limited public commercial deployment.
- Rondo Energy: Provider of industrial heat battery systems delivering zero-carbon industrial process heat. Emerging peer because it competes directly with Brillouin's licensed reactor technology for industrial buyers seeking clean heat alternatives.
- Antora Energy: Developer of thermal battery and heat-to-power systems for industrial decarbonization. Emerging peer because it targets the same industrial heat customer base with an alternative clean-thermal technology approach.
- Brenmiller Energy: Provider of thermal energy storage solutions for industrial and utility customers. Emerging peer as it competes in the clean industrial heat space that Brillouin's licensed systems target.
- EnergyNest: Supplier of thermal battery modules for industrial process heat and steam applications. Emerging peer given shared focus on replacing fossil-fueled industrial boiler systems with clean alternatives.
Broad incumbents
- Heliogen: Developer of concentrated solar thermal systems for industrial process heat. Comparable because it targets decarbonization of industrial heat using a novel thermal-energy technology, competing for the same OEM/end-user customers as Brillouin's HHT.
- Bloom Energy: Manufacturer of solid oxide fuel cells producing electricity and heat for commercial/industrial customers. Broad incumbent peer because it offers a competing clean on-site power and heat solution for industrial and commercial sites.
- Cummins ( hydrogen / fuel cell division): Large industrial manufacturer with hydrogen fuel cell and clean power generation product lines. Broad incumbent peer because it competes for industrial clean-energy OEM and end-customer relationships that Brillouin seeks to license.
- TerraPower: Advanced nuclear reactor developer targeting clean baseload power and process heat applications. Broad incumbent peer because it operates in the broader advanced/alternative nuclear energy space pursuing commercial clean-thermal and power markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Brillouin Energy social profiles
Digital presenceBrillouin Energy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Brillouin Energy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Brillouin Energy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Brillouin Energy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Brillouin Energy
What does Brillouin Energy do?
Brillouin Energy develops and licenses proprietary Low Energy Nuclear Reaction (LENR) thermal energy systems based on its Controlled Electron Capture Reaction (CECR) process, commercialized through the Hydrogen Hot Tube (HHT) reactor and Q-Pulse control system. The company manufactures pilot reactors at its Emeryville facility and licenses the underlying CECR technology to industrial OEMs and partners that build conventional-style boiler systems, process heat equipment, and power generation systems for residential, commercial, and industrial end-users. Revenue is generated through initial contract fees, annual license fees, and product royalties paid by licensees across four thermal output tiers from sub-600W to above 500KW.
Is Brillouin Energy a public or private company?
Brillouin Energy is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Brillouin Energy founded?
Brillouin Energy was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Brillouin Energy based?
Brillouin Energy is headquartered in Berkeley, United States, in the North America region.
How does Brillouin Energy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Technology Licensing is the primary driver. The others are private Equity Offerings and non-Profit Grant Funding.
Who are Brillouin Energy's main competitors?
Leonardo Corporation is listed as a direct peer. Emerging players are Defkalion Green Technologies, Rondo Energy, Antora Energy, Brenmiller Energy and EnergyNest. Broad incumbents are Heliogen, Bloom Energy, Cummins ( hydrogen / fuel cell division) and TerraPower.
Does Brillouin Energy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Brillouin Energy.
What industry is Brillouin Energy in?
Brillouin Energy's product category is Clean Energy Thermal Reactor Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAKADAC, Gen IV / Advanced Reactor Systems (SFR, LFR, GFR, MSR, HTGR, Microreactors), with a secondary code of EUABAJAI, Onsite Low-Carbon Heat & CHP (Electrified CHP, Fuel Cells, Renewable CHP). Its NAICS code is 332410 and its SIC code is 4991.