Charlestown, MA – January 28, 2025 – Found Energy, a leading cleantech startup transforming waste into clean energy, has announced a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with TelWel East Japan Corporation, to explore commercialization opportunities for its innovative aluminum-fueled power systems in Japan.
The signing ceremony took place at Found Energy’s headquarters in Charlestown, Massachusetts and was attended by senior leadership from both companies, as well as local city officials, highlighting Boston’s position as a global hub for climate tech innovation.
A New Era for Waste-to-Energy Technology
Founded in 2022 as an MIT spinout, Found Energy has developed a groundbreaking method for extracting clean energy from aluminum scrap, including materials that traditionally go unrecycled, such as contaminated aluminum foil and construction waste. This proprietary technology produces high temperature steam and hydrogen gas on-demand, paving the way for scalable, sustainable industrial energy solutions.
With more than $15MM raised to date and a rapidly growing team of over 30 world class engineers, Found Energy is on a mission to bring its innovative product to global markets. This partnership with TelWel East Japan Corporation represents a major milestone towards the commercialization of this technology, opening the door to Japan - a leading market in energy independence and innovation.
Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion for the City of Boston, was the keynote speaker at the event. "Boston continues to be not just the center of innovation, but the center of revolutionary ideas,” he said.
Idowu praised Found Energy’s technology and its future potential: “I'm grateful for, and I'm here today not just because of the partnership and collaboration that we've had as the city of Boston and Found Energy, but also because this company is quite literally helping to shape our next 250 years,” he said.
A Vision for Global Impact
This multi-phase collaboration with TelWel East Japan Corporation will focus on scaling and commercializing Found Energy’s systems for the Japanese market, further advancing the country’s transition to clean energy.
“This MOU will help us accelerate the development of our power systems and turn this technology that started in the lab into a product that can then be used to decarbonize heavy industry,” said Peter Godart, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO of Found Energy.
“The first systems that we're looking to build will generate several hundred kilowatts of thermal power that can be plugged into a wide range of industrial processes, and what we need now is a strong partner to test this new technology,” he added.
“We're really happy to have found partners in both a very exciting country for energy innovation - Japan - but also specifically a very exciting company, TelWel East Japan Corporation,” said Godart.
Tatsu Ishikawa, President of TelWel East Japan Corporation, echoed this enthusiasm in his remarks: "Our first encounter with Found Energy was exactly one year ago. At that time, we were deeply impressed by their groundbreaking technology and its immense potential. Since then, this marks our third visit to Found Energy, and with each visit, we have been inspired by the company’s remarkable progress and innovation.”
“Looking ahead, we are committed to ensuring the success of this partnership and will work diligently to match the speed and innovation of Found Energy,” he added. “Together, we aim to deliver impactful results and drive meaningful progress in Japan’s energy sector. We are eager to launch our business in the Japanese market as soon as possible.”
About Found Energy
Based in Charlestown, Massachusetts, Found Energy is a cleantech startup focused on transforming aluminum waste into clean, scalable energy solutions. With all research and production conducted in Boston, the company is at the forefront of innovative climate technologies that support a sustainable future.
About TelWel East Japan Corporation
A subsidiary of NTT East, TelWel East Japan Corporation is a B2B solutions provider dedicated to advancing energy innovation and sustainability initiatives in Japan.
Media Contact
Email: media@found.energy
