1. Executive
Summary
Opportunity
Founded in 2007, Berken Energy is starting the initial commercial production of patent-pending,
economical thermoelectric generation (TEG) products. Once assembled into an add on unit, they
can be installed to lower the demand for transmitted power at food processing or chemical plants,
foundries, or any site with a source of waste heat .
Oil and gas fields can also now generate on site power from their waste water or gases. This will
again lower demand for transmitted power or allow development at sites not on the grid.
The units can also be used by power plants and utility providers to capture wasted energy and
generate more power at on-grid sites.
2. In addition, requiring a lower temperature of 80°C, Berken’s technology opens up a huge
geothermal potential.
Berken’s technology and its compact units with no moving parts provides a paradigm shift in the
global geothermal arena, opening up unlimited before unusable opportunities for geothermal
electricity production. In comparison to the current technology for geothermal, Berken’s ability to
producing power at lower initiation temperature makes almost 80% of the US available as potential
generation sites. By utilizing existing well data, installation risks and costs can be eliminated. The
market potential outside the US is enormous.
Product Function and Benefit
TE-Generators(TEG) are based on the thermoelectric effect of contacting 2 metals
Efficiencies are relatively low however there have many improvements in recent years. However
current modules still require temperatures exceeding 450°F.
3. This technology is currently being used to produce small modules for various industrial and
aerospace applications.
The essence of our technical breakthrough is that we transmute the conventional (square
centimeter) design into a large area (square feet) thin form device (microns thick) format that is
much more cost-effective to manufacture, mechanically flexible, and shows higher output per area
than these conventional thermoelectric devices. Berken is currently producing material that
generates 150w/sq.ft with temperatures starting at 150°F.
Berken’s approach to Thermal Electric Generation (TEG) and the subsequent assemblies will
provide for an add-on unit that will use both residual and waste heat in liquids, and gases as a
feedstock for electrical generation. These units have the potential to replace fossil fuel burning
generators, lower industrial transmitted power demands, or provide additional output at
renewable and conventional generation sites. At $2.20/W for the material and $5.70/W installed
costs these units will provide low cost electricity at a return that does not require tax support to be
economical, an unheard of situation in the field of alternative energy
Development Stage
Computer modeling is complete with initial small scale production by the 3rd Q 2012
Projects are in place to verify the units’ performance followed by continuing annual demand.
• Nevada Energy Department funded project of $1.7 million for additional generation at a
geothermal site.
• Partnered with Elite Energy out of Carson City, NV for the assembly, testing, UL
certification, and installation of these first demonstration projects
4. • Pre-funded award from the State Energy Office of Nevada for jointly-installing our first unit
(20-50 Kilowatts) on a heat treating facility flue-stack with Elite Energy's assistance.
• Initial demonstration approval from Veolia Energy for installation in Q1-2013 (20-50
Kilowatts at Condensate Steam site) upon successful test they've committed to a $10 million
purchase order for the next follow-on projects.
• Southern Research Institute to install a test prototype for the Department of
Defense. Funding in Q1-2013 for a 20-50 KWh project
Intellectual Property
Berken has a core IP portfolio protecting its unique manufacturing process expertise. Application,
utility, and installation patents are also part of the extensive IP portfolio.
Target Market
Customers:
As outlined above several companies are awaiting the completion of the initial units.
Market and Industry:
Of the $10 trillion dollars in energy consumed globally every year, 60% is lost as wasted high
temperature heat. It is predicted that by capturing this lost energy using thermoelectric systems
such as Berken’s has the potential to generate 17% of US electric demand.
There exists a renewable and pollution-free energy resource that thermally activated
technologies are uniquely able to tap. Unfortunately, policy makers and energy developers
are mostly unaware of this resource. Its potential for development is poorly understood.
That resource is waste heat.
Thermally activated technologies are an important part of the Nation's strategy for
accomplishing critical energy and environmental goals.
Source: NREL CHP a Vision for the Future,August,2009
5. Competition:
Alphabet Energy, GMZ, and BSST for heat recovery
Any system using the waste stream for heating and cooling cost reductions.
Ormat, Cryg Energy, and manufacturers of steam turbines for geothermal.
Competitive Advantage
Berken is developing large, commercial scale economical TEG products; other available TEG
materials are small and can be up to 40 times more expensive per watt.
Figure 1 Current TEG Pricing
Berken’s TEG units can be added on line without additional engineering, and with few
moving parts there is little to no maintenance. Such is not the case with the Kaline or
Rankine cycle, today’s current thermal generation technology.
Rankin Cycle vs. Berken TEG generator (right)
6. Cost/margin benefits:
Build Cost Fuel Footprint Build
Cost Time
($/Avg. MW) (ac/ MW)
($/MW)
Coal 3.3 M 275 k/yr 0.35 > 3.5 yrs
Gas 2.1 M 775 k/yr 0.32 > 2 yrs
Nuclear 6.9 M 40 k/yr 1.25 > 10 yrs
Wind 8M ZERO 40 > 2 yrs
Solar 6.2M ZERO 5 1.2 yrs
Berken 3.5 M ZERO Minimal < 1 yr
TEG
Figure 5 Installation Comparison
Berken’s thermoelectric generation units have a distinct advantage over current alternative energy
solutions as its consistent 24/7 power generation eliminates the need for storage and/or
conventional source backup. There is no faceplate vs actual output.
Also, unlike wind and solar , the majority of installations can be at on-grid sites eliminating the
hurdle of constructing transmission lines between the source and the end user.
7. Management Team
Ken Newman, Co-Founder and President: Ken has over 18 years of experience creating
successful start-up businesses in diverse industries and has also achieved the Inc. 500 list. His
start-ups have consistently grown from zero to over $50 million in revenue with successful exits for
investors.
Ron Petkie, Chief Technology Officer: Ron has over 23 years in the design, fabrication and
characterization of electronic materials and devices. This includes eight years in alternative energy. He
has a Ph.D. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and holds seven patents.
David Evans, Director of Manufacturing: David has 35 years in the composite business in all
aspects from engineering and design to plant and environmental management.
Advisors
Dr. Frederick Adurodija, Thin-Film Thermoelectric and New Elements Consultant:
Proven R&D inventor for two decades in several renewable areas with Global corporations such
as Panasonic, Veeco, Heliovolt, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Faunhofer
Michael Johnson: Michael has held numerous leadership and senior-level technical positions
within the high tech industry. As a Vice President and General Manager he led product
definition, supplier and customer relationships, product development, program management,
manufacturing engineering, procurement, and corporate organization and strategy campaigns.
John Newman, Technical and Advisory Board Member: Currently an Executive of a Billion-
Dollar Manufacturing Company in North America . His academic degrees in Chemical
Engineering and Chemistry have been valuable as an operations leader of several well known
successful manufacturing companies. He has leadership expertise in large scale manufacturing
as well as start-up company development. He is an accomplished expert on lean manufacturing
systems, and advises on environmental and safety compliance matters. He led many complex
projects using heat-capture devices in the Automotive, Electroplating and Hardware
manufacturing sectors.
University Collaboration:
Boise State University Dr. Peter Miranda Director, Idaho Micro-fabrication Lab
University of Central Florida Dr. Nina Orlovskaya, Assistant Professor Dept. of -
- Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering
8. Market Strategy
Supplier and Distributor Relationships
Berken is commercially applying its technology to projects awaiting the delivery of its TEG units. :
As these projects come on line, there will be an unprecedented growth in demand for Berken
products as well as for licensing of its technology.
The company is also formalizing numerous key customer relationships in a variety of vertical
markets. Its anticipated annual revenue is in excess of $63 M in the fifth year of operations
including mobile power generation, electric utilities, power technologies - controls, management
and distribution, utility construction and engineering, geothermal energy development and
engineering.
Deployment method and partners: The current deployment method is to produce Berken’s
thermoelectric devices and ship them to our partners for custom installation and integration. The
licensing of Berken’s technology will be examined case by case as the opportunity arises.
Key Milestones on the Path to Deployment:
Initial small scale production to Industry for testing and verification Complete
Small scale production units, 4th Q 2012
Plant ramp up – 4th Q 2012
Initial commercial production – 1st Q 2013
Achievements
Computer modeling and design verification .
Proof on producing our Thermoelectric cells with our unique process techniques.
Validated that our thermoelectric cells compete in power output with current commercially
available top-end competitors.
Proof of highly profitable manufacturing at price points highly competitive with both
conventional and other alternative electrical power production.
Relationships established with leading national and global partners in key vertical markets;
Comprehensive R &D and product manufacturing facility established and equipped
IP portfolio in place for application and utility; additional installation patents pending;
Development of a core management team and scientific and technical resources to support
rapid product development and manufacturing capability
9. Financials
Projected Sales and Gross Profits:
Funding Needs:
First round use of funds;
• Acquire additional production machinery and expand outsourced manufacturing.
• Fulfill multiple pending project orders.
• Continue filing domestic and international patent applications.
• Hire Key Executives, CFO, and CTO with industry and mid- to-large size company management
experience with Merger and Acquisition experience, as well manufacturing and outsourcing
experience.
Exit Strategy: Berken projects potential corporate acquisition by large core customer(s). Potential
Industry Specific Licensing and Initial Public Offering can also be potential opportunities.
Ken Newman
4868 Innovation Dr.
Ft. Collins, CO 80525
Email: ken,newman@berkenenergy.com
512-771-0000