Element 16

Element 16 Technologies is a cleantech startup founded in April 2016 by Parker Wells and MAE Associate Professor Richard Wirz at UCLA. The company develops high-temperature thermal energy storage systems using molten sulfur as the storage medium — a novel and cost-effective approach to capturing and releasing industrial process heat and enabling flexible power generation. Element 16's thermal battery is designed to serve commercial and industrial facilities by making every BTU of energy available on-demand, reducing waste and lowering operating costs. The company is staffed by experienced engineers and has won over $1.5 million in grant funding, including from the California Energy Commission, to demonstrate large-scale sulfur thermal battery systems. Element 16 brings lean startup methodology to the energy industry, targeting industries that require reliable, dispatchable heat and power.