entX Limited is a nuclear engineering, materials science and advanced manufacturing company developing unique but globally impacting technologies with radioisotopes at their core. The business operates across two pillars, being Medical Isotope Supply Chains and Space & Defence Radioisotope Energy Systems. entX Limited was incorporated in 2013 as a research and development spin-out from an ASX listed company. The company had a betavoltaic power generation technology for Space & Defence at TRL 3 in 2021.
The Space & Defence (S&D) pillar is developing Radioisotope Energy Systems to sustain and increase the endurance of unmanned and unattended persistent systems in harsh and remote operating environments in Space and on Earth. The S&D technologies harness the energy from radioisotopic decay and converts it to heat energy and power.
The GenX Betavoltaic Power Generator extends lifespan from weeks and months to years and in some cases decades. Current case studies have power availability of unattended ground sensors being extended from 60 days to over 2 years. Coupled with existing battery chemistry or a supercapacitor, the GenX performs a trickle charge function enabling endurance increases upwards of orders of magnitude. It is maintenance free and operates across vast temperature and pressure differentials.
The Radioisotope Heating Unit (RHU) is a lunar night survival capability that requires no power and batteries. The RHU will support months of lunar night survival for small lunar rovers, sensors and other semi-permanent technologies used in lunar surface exploration. The RHU is optioned with additional heat switch technology and communications if required.
The current competitor landscape for GenX is existing radiovoltaic power systems, which are generally less power intensive and more expensive. Adjacent sectors include solar and radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTG) that require vastly expensive and controlled nuclear material.
Competitors for the entX RHU include other RHUs and RTGs. Other alternatives include battery operated resistive heaters.
entX leverages it’s expertise in nuclear engineering and materials science to develop technology across two verticals that utilise a common team. This creates a cross pollenating and efficient culture that applies learnings and developments effectively and quickly. The teams background in automotive R&D applies a theory of developing technology through a mass production lens, which facilitates the creation of technology that can be scaled.
entX places a great emphasis on developing secure supply chains for radioisotope material. Having a diversified supply chain to support scaled manufacturing is not trivial and entX draws from experience in nuclear medicine supply chains, uranium and rare earths mining and radioactive waste to ensure uninterrupted future supply that is economically viable and from free / safe States.
entX also has an extensive intellectual portfolio consisting of patents, trade secrets and know-how to protect its technology.
Currently at TRL5 for both technologies. Prototypes can be delivered in weeks / months.
TRL5 on both technologies
entX has established a US entity and is currently developing a management team.
Yes, both in late TRL / advanced R&D and establishing sales / distribution channels
Commonwealth of Australia / Defence Science Technology Group (SOCOMD) and others which cannot be currently disclosed.
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, US Department of Energy (Oak Ridge)