Brian Berzin, Co-Founder & CEO, Thea Energy

Listen on your favorite podcast platform:

Brian Berzin: Leading the Charge at Thea Energy

Brian Berzin, Chief Executive and Co-founder of Thea Energy, began his journey as an electrical engineer designing control systems and switching power supplies before transitioning into investment banking. On the lookout for the biggest available investment opportunities, he focused on fusion industry, eventually joining General Fusion in Vancouver. He later co-founded Thea Energy with Princeton fusion scientist David Gates. 

Thea Energy seeks to revolutionize the way we harness fusion energy through its unique “stellarator” design, an advanced method of magnetic confinement fusion. The company leverages a phased array of superconducting magnets, a technology adapted from successful applications in radar and telecommunications. This approach replaces the need for creating the intricate physical structures typical of earlier designs, which not only reduces complexity but also enhances reliability and performance. Recent iterations of their superconducting magnets demonstrate the potential of this groundbreaking approach in streamlining manufacturing processes, while maintaining precision and performance, and increasing fault-tolerance. 

Looking ahead, Thea Energy seeks to scale its magnet manufacturing capabilities. The immediate plan involves building a 70% scale prototype of their first full-fledged system, which will be a crucial step in validating the company’s approach under practical conditions. The company envisions a landscape where fusion technology not only achieves commercial viability but does so at competitive market rates, paving the way for a transformed energy ecosystem.