zap-energy
ORGANISATION dossier

Zap Energy

Zap Energy

ORGANISATION Organizations Also: Zap Energy, Zap

01 Executive_Summary

Founded 2017, spun out from University of Washington (Uri Shumlak). Uses sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch — NOT FRC, but competes for same funding. FuZE device: 1-3 keV electron temperatures (PRL, April 2024) — hottest in Z-pinch. FuZE-Q: >5×10^9 neutrons per shot (triple 2023 record). Ion temp >2.5 keV. $130M Series D (Oct 2024), total $330M+ raised, 150 employees. DOE Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program recipient (one of 8). Project Century: liquid metal walls, 100 kW avg power, 0.1 Hz rep rate, 1000+ consecutive plasmas in <3 hours. Targeting Q_sci = 1 (scientific breakeven). Investors: Soros Fund Management, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Chevron, Shell, DCVC, Lowercarbon.

03 Deep_Dive_Intelligence

Overview

Founded 2017, spun out from University of Washington (Uri Shumlak). Uses sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch — NOT FRC, but competes for same funding. FuZE device: 1-3 keV electron temperatures (PRL, April 2024) — hottest in Z-pinch. FuZE-Q: >5×10^9 neutrons per shot (triple 2023 record). Ion temp >2.5 keV. $130M Series D (Oct 2024), total $330M+ raised, 150 employees. DOE Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program recipient (one of 8). Project Century: liquid metal walls, 100 kW avg power, 0.1 Hz rep rate, 1000+ consecutive plasmas in <3 hours. Targeting Q_sci = 1 (scientific breakeven). Investors: Soros Fund Management, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Chevron, Shell, DCVC, Lowercarbon.

Entity Type: Organization — Zap Energy operates as an institutional actor in the defense/aerospace ecosystem.

Network Relationships

Zap Energy connects to 2 entities in the intelligence network:

Organisations (1):

  • → DOE: DOE Milestone-Based Fusion Development recipient

Programs (1):

  • ← DOE Milestone Program: Recipient (Z-pinch)

Source Documents

Intelligence derived from 4 source documents:

  • Phys. Rev. Lett. 132, 155101 (April 2024)
  • APS DPP24, TP12.104 and NI03.5
  • GeekWire — $130M round (Oct 2024)
  • zapenergy.com/blog/a-look-back-at-2024

05 Related_Entities (2)

DOE
organisation →
DOE Milestone-Based Fusion Development recipient
DOE Milestone Program
program ←
Recipient (Z-pinch)

07 Key_Findings

  • ▸ Entity Type: Organization — Zap Energy operates as an institutional actor in the defense/aerospace ecosystem.
  • ▸ → DOE: DOE Milestone-Based Fusion Development recipient
  • ▸ ← DOE Milestone Program: Recipient (Z-pinch)
  • ▸ Phys. Rev. Lett. 132, 155101 (April 2024)
  • ▸ GeekWire — $130M round (Oct 2024)

09 Timeline_Mentions (2)

2023

DOE announces 8 Milestone-Based Fusion Development recipients

$46M for 8 companies. Inspired by NASA COTS. 5-10 year timeline for pilot plant designs.

fusion-research
2024

Zap Energy achieves 1-3 keV in Z-pinch plasma

PRL paper confirms fusion-relevant temperatures. FuZE-Q produces 5B neutrons per shot. $130M raised.

fusion-research
View Full Timeline →

10 FAQ

What is Zap Energy? ▾
Founded 2017, spun out from University of Washington (Uri Shumlak). Uses sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch — NOT FRC, but competes for same funding. FuZE device: 1-3 keV electron temperatures (PRL, April 2024) — hottest in Z-pinch. FuZE-Q: >5×10^9 neutrons per shot (triple 2023 record). Ion temp >2.5 keV. $130M Series D (Oct 2024), total $330M+ raised, 150 employees. DOE Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program recipient (one of 8). Project Century: liquid metal walls, 100 kW avg power, 0.1 Hz rep rate, 1000+ consecutive plasmas in <3 hours. Targeting Q_sci = 1 (scientific breakeven). Investors: Soros Fund Management, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Chevron, Shell, DCVC, Lowercarbon.
What is Zap Energy connected to? ▾
Zap Energy is connected to 2 related entities in the intelligence network, including DOE, DOE Milestone Program. These connections are documented through shared source documents, co-occurrence in research findings, and network graph relationships.
When did Zap Energy appear in the research timeline? ▾
Zap Energy is referenced in 2 timeline events, including "DOE announces 8 Milestone-Based Fusion Development recipients" (2023). The full timeline provides chronological context for all documented activities.
What source documents are available for Zap Energy? ▾
4 source documents are available in the research archive, including primary source PDFs from defense research collections. These documents provide the evidentiary basis for the intelligence assessment.
What does the deep dive analysis reveal about Zap Energy? ▾
The deep dive intelligence assessment provides a comprehensive analysis of Zap Energy, covering strategic role, network connections, and operational significance. The analysis is derived from 4 primary source documents and cross-referenced with the network graph.

Source_Documents 4 FILES

Phys. Rev. Lett. 132, 155101 (April 2024)
PDF Archive →
APS DPP24, TP12.104 and NI03.5
PDF Archive →
GeekWire — $130M round (Oct 2024)
PDF Archive →
zapenergy.com/blog/a-look-back-at-2024
PDF Archive →

External_References 4 REFS

Phys. Rev. Lett. 132, 155101 (April 2024) ref
APS DPP24, TP12.104 and NI03.5 ref
GeekWire — $130M round (Oct 2024) ref
zapenergy.com/blog/a-look-back-at-2024 url ↗
Locate on Graph ← Back to Dossiers
ID: zap-energy
Type: organisation
Region: main
Last updated: 2026-08-09