Everybody in the Pool E103: Every battery tech in the pool
Sep 18, 2025
Mike Burz, co-founder and CEO of Enzinc, brings his background as an aerospace engineer to the forefront of battery technology. He discusses a revolutionary zinc sponge anode developed with the U.S. Navy, which solves the dendrite problem in rechargeable zinc batteries. This innovative approach promises a safer and recyclable alternative to lithium, making it ideal for applications like e-bikes and data centers. Burz emphasizes that this is about providing safer options for the grid, not eliminating lithium altogether.
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Storage Is The Foundation
- Storage is the foundation for scaling renewables and ensuring reliability across grids and data centers.
- Mike Burz argues batteries must be rethought from chemistry to business model to enable that foundation.
From Design To The Factory Floor
- Mike Burz recounts designing and then building the U.S.'s first stealth cruise missile at General Dynamics.
- He moved from design to factory floor work, showing his hands-on engineering background.
Zinc Fits A Circular-Economy Ethos
- Zinc offers abundant supply, water-based electrolyte, wide temperature tolerance, and recyclability versus lithium.
- Burz says zinc better matches a circular-economy ethos and reduces the need for heavy BMS and thermal management.