![[thea energy logo.svg|300]] Company website: [https://thea.energy/](https://thea.energy/) ### Introduction Princeton Stellarators, now operating as Thea Energy, was founded in 2022 as a spin-out from the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) and Princeton University, led by David Gates, a former PPPL physicist, alongside Brian Berzin and Matt Robinson. Headquartered in Branchburg, New Jersey, the company's mission is to commercialize stellarator fusion technology, delivering sustainable, abundant clean energy by leveraging breakthroughs in stellarator physics and engineering to create efficient, modular fusion power plants that address global energy demands and climate challenges. Thea Energy's key focus areas include developing planar-coil stellarators for simplified fusion reactor designs, advancing pilot plants like Eos for demonstration, and scaling manufacturing to enable cost-effective deployment; the company emphasizes innovation in magnetic confinement to overcome traditional stellarator complexities, supporting applications in baseload power, industrial heat, and integration with renewables for a decarbonized energy future. ### Key Products and Technology - **Planar-Coil Stellarator**: A modular stellarator design using planar coils for simplified manufacturing and optimization; features include reduced complexity compared to traditional helical coils, high-performance plasma confinement via quasisymmetry, and scalability for commercial fusion; applications in efficient energy production, with potential for smaller footprints and lower costs in power plants. - **Eos Fusion Pilot Plant**: A demonstration stellarator based on planar-coil technology; features advanced magnetic configurations for stable plasma, integration with computational tools like QUADCOIL for design optimization, and pathways to net energy gain; applications in validating commercial viability, testing fusion performance, and accelerating deployment timelines. ### Team and Leadership - **David Gates, Co-Founder and CEO**: Leads strategy and operations; former PPPL physicist with expertise in stellarator design; focuses on commercializing fusion innovations; X handle: not available; LinkedIn: not publicly listed. - **Brian Berzin, Co-Founder**: Oversees business development; background in entrepreneurship and fusion commercialization; X handle: not available; LinkedIn: not publicly listed. - **Matt Robinson, Co-Founder**: Manages technical advancements; expertise in plasma physics; X handle: not available; LinkedIn: not publicly listed. ### Recent News and Developments (2025) | Date | Event | Details | |------|--------|---------| | March 12, 2025 | QUADCOIL Code Breakthrough | Collaborated with PPPL on new code to simplify stellarator magnet designs, reducing costs and complexity for fusion power. | | January 29, 2025 | Peer-Reviewed Publications | Announced papers outlining planar-coil stellarator approach for commercial fusion, advancing Eos pilot plant design. | | January 21, 2025 | New Headquarters Announcement | Opened lab and office space in Branchburg, NJ, to support core technology development and manufacturing for stellarators. | ### Partnerships and Collaborations - **Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)**: Spin-out collaboration since founding, including joint research on stellarator advancements like QUADCOIL code for magnet optimization. - **Princeton University**: Founding partnership for technology transfer and research support in stellarator physics. - **U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)**: Selected for Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program in 2023, ongoing funding in 2025 for stellarator advancements. ### Closing Note As a spin-out at the development stage with DOE milestone funding and recent expansions like new headquarters, Princeton Stellarators (Thea Energy) is well-positioned for pilot demonstrations in the late 2020s, capitalizing on stellarator innovations amid growing fusion interest. *Report generated July 28, 2025*