Antora Insider: A Q&A with Dr. Leah Kuritzky, Head of Photovoltaics Operations

Antora Energy turns sunshine and wind into a reliable, on-demand source of zero-carbon heat and power to decarbonize industry and the electric grid. To convert the heat stored in our thermal battery back into electricity, Antora has developed world-record-breaking thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells. Much like solar photovoltaic cells do with sunlight, thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells convert the light radiating from Antora’s thermal battery into electricity. Antora’s team has not only designed the most efficient TPV cells in the world, it’s also become the first to manufacture them at scale.

Behind these groundbreaking achievements is a dynamic, world-class team of engineers and leaders. Through this series, we’ll get to know a few of them.

Today, we hear from Antora’s Head of Photovoltaics Operations, Dr. Leah Kuritzky. Leah pairs a lifelong passion for ecology with a deep technical expertise in semiconductors, lasers, and LEDs to operationalize Antora’s groundbreaking TPV technology.

Can you tell us a bit about your role at Antora Energy?

I’m responsible for scaling up our thermophotovoltaic technologies from the lab to the manufacturing line. This work involves supply chain development, techno-economic analysis, and ensuring performance, yield, and quality in our manufacturing. I work closely with many of our suppliers along the value chain, building and maintaining relationships.

We’re at an exciting moment for our technology. We recently launched the world’s first dedicated manufacturing line for TPV cells in Sunnyvale, CA, which is a huge milestone for the scalability of our thermal battery systems.

What are thermophotovoltaics, why do they matter, and what makes Antora’s TPV technological advances so important?

Thermophotovoltaic cells convert the light that’s emitted from a hot object into electricity. Converting heat into useful energy is the backbone of nearly everything we do: “heat engines” like steam turbines and internal combustion engines power over 80% of electricity and over 90% of transportation in the United States. For over a century, only a few types of heat engines have operated above 30% conversion efficiency. We have demonstrated TPV cells that well surpass that threshold, exceeding 40% efficiency — opening an entirely new class of heat engine that does not rely on fossil fuels.

What is your background? How did you end up in the climate tech space?

From a young age, I’ve enjoyed nature, animals, and just being outdoors. I studied chemistry in college and, while an undergraduate, I participated in research in both ecology and energy. I got my first introduction to semiconductor research for energy applications during two summer undergraduate internships at the National Renewable Energy Lab. Through these research experiences, it became clear to me that improving our energy system was going to be one of the most powerful ways to tackle climate change and have a positive impact on the environment.

During my PhD at UC Santa Barbara, I researched compound semiconductors for LEDs and lasers for energy-efficient lighting. My first job out of grad school was at Lumileds, a Bay-Area LED manufacturing company. When I learned about an opportunity at Antora, it stood out to me right away — my first reaction was, “wow, this is perfect for me.” This was a company focused on solving climate change that also had a need for the skillset I had already developed in semiconductors and optoelectronics.

What makes you passionate about Antora’s mission and the tech you’re working on?

A few things really stood out to me about Antora. It’s a small company, which means each individual employee has an outsized impact on the technology we’re building and the direction of the company. And when we think about the technology Antora is pioneering, there’s really nothing else like it. Our solution can provide on-demand, zero-carbon heat and power, including very high-temperature heat. There is no other company that can meet all of those needs and do it at scale.

It’s great to be among such passionate people at Antora: the team is full of smart, funny, and dedicated individuals who want to create a positive impact on the world. It’s an energizing place, and I’m grateful for my wonderful colleagues.

What do you see as the biggest challenges for companies focused on renewable energy and energy storage?

Getting technologies deployed quickly, even those that have already matured, has proven to be a real challenge with renewable energy. In the U.S., we have a very long grid interconnection queue where some projects get stuck waiting years to get connected. Finding ways to resolve that bottleneck and move fast with the technologies that are already proven and cheap will be critical for the industry at large.

Any professional accomplishments that you’re most proud of?

I worked on LED products at Lumileds, and I’m incredibly proud to have participated in getting those products to market, helping increase energy efficiency for customers around the world.

I’ve been at Antora since we were a tiny startup, and as I look back, I’m proud of the work we have done to build the team and drive innovative breakthroughs in TPV efficiency. I’m committed to getting our thermal energy storage systems deployed and making a dent in industrial emissions.

What advice do you have for someone looking to build a career in climate tech? Any advice for women starting out?

First, I would say to anyone who wants to stop climate change that you don’t have to be an engineer to do it! Find what you like to do and what you’re good at and then find a way to apply those skills for the good of the planet. Stopping climate change is such a massive challenge that it calls upon the skills of all of us — filmmakers, writers, finance professionals, policy-makers, app-designers as well as engineers.

For young women looking to build a career in climate technology or any field, it’s important for us to support and help lift up the other women around us. It could be as simple as amplifying a colleague’s voice or sending a note to another woman we work with to share ideas and recognize accomplishments. We can also encourage our allies of other genders to do the same for the women in their circles. A sense of community and support can help make it easier for women to find belonging in any industry, including climate tech.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I live an active lifestyle and love being outdoors. During my free time I love to work on volunteer projects that center around native plants and habitat restoration. I’ve spent a lot of time maintaining trails and removing invasive plant species. These projects have taken me everywhere from my local trails in the Berkeley hills, to California’s Channel Islands where I’ve volunteered on restoration projects on Anacapa and San Nicolas islands.

What’s a fun fact about yourself?

As a hobby, I participate in nature and ecology research as a citizen scientist through an app called iNaturalist. In the app, you can make observations of living things you see out in nature or anywhere you go. Anytime I go out on a hike, work on habitat restoration, or just take a walk around the neighborhood, I look for interesting plants and animals. I’m a frequent user and have logged more than 1,000 individual observations comprising over 500 unique species since I joined in 2018. It’s a fun way to learn about my local flora and fauna and share experiences with other people who have that same enthusiasm for nature.

Interested in working with people like Leah and joining Antora’s mission? Check out our current openings to join us as we work towards decarbonizing industry and stopping climate change.

Leah and Antora’s TPV team volunteering at Ulistac Natural Area, removing invasive plants and planting native ones.