Arbor Energy
Zeke Smith is an accomplished engineer with extensive experience in multidisciplinary design and aerothermal methods, currently serving as Chief Engineer at Arbor since March 2023. Previously, Zeke held positions including Deputy Chief Engineer at Venus Aerospace and Senior Turbomachinery Engineer at SpaceX, where significant contributions to high-pressure turbine nozzles and cooling technologies were made. Early career roles at GE Aviation and GE Power focused on innovative airfoil cooling designs and the development of next-generation cooling techniques. An education in mechanical engineering and applied physics was pursued at Texas A&M University and Cornell University, complemented by an altMBA from October 2021.
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Arbor Energy
At Arbor, we’re sustainably powering the present while erasing emissions of the past. Our innovative system transforms organic waste into clean, reliable electricity while capturing carbon dioxide at scale. Founded by space tech veterans who pivoted from building technology to explore new planets to protecting our own, Arbor leverages cutting-edge aerospace technology to tackle climate change. Our mission is to bring gigawatts of clean, dependable baseload power online while removing gigatons of legacy carbon emissions. Earth is the most important spaceship we’ll ever have, and we’re dedicated to restoring its balance. Drawing on our team’s deep aerospace expertise, we’ve created a power system that meets today’s demands while repairing yesterday’s damage. Arbor’s engine, fueled by organic waste, improves on Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) using advancements in oxy-combustion, supercritical turbomachinery, and additive manufacturing. The system turns waste—like overgrown brush, crop residues, and food waste—into clean power, reducing wildfire risks and landfill emissions. The captured CO2 is permanently stored deep underground, where it mineralizes into rock, ensuring it never returns to the atmosphere. At Arbor, we envision a future where human progress and environmental stewardship work in harmony to power our world and bring the planet into balance. We’re proudly backed by climate-focused investors including Gigascale Capital, Voyager Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, and Cantos Ventures.