Cody Friesen

Cody Friesen has a passion for improving energy usage and the quality of drinking water. He has created multiple renewable energy innovations, including a rechargeable metal-air battery and solar-driven technology that creates water from air. He co-founded companies to improve access to energy and clean drinking water. Friesen’s contributions to renewable environmental energy technologies earned him the 2019 $500K Lemelson-MIT Prize. 

Growing up in Arizona, Friesen was inspired by its natural landscape of cotton fields and citrus orchards sustained by a system of irrigation canals created by Native Americans, and vast deserts. Friesen showed interest in science from a young age due to the natural playground around him. His passion for the environment earned him a Bachelor of Science Degree in materials science and engineering from Arizona State University and a PhD in materials science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

In 2007, Friesen co-created Fluidic Energy, now known as NantEnergy, which provides clean energy solutions. The company was formed to manufacture rechargeable metal-air batteries for use around the world. These batteries can hold 10 times as much energy as lithium-ion devices and at a much lower cost. These batteries provide backup power during long outages, as previous batteries wouldn’t last long enough to work effectively. Friesen helped raise over $150 million to build the company. He later founded Zero Mass Water, now known as SOURCE Global, which is committed to making drinking water an unlimited resource for everyone around the world. The technology has been deployed in 45 countries, providing clean drinking water to developing countries and urban communities.  

One of Friesen’s most notable works is the creation and development of SOURCE Hydropanels, solar panels that use sunlight and air to make drinking water. This technology is intended for parts of the world that don’t have access to clean water. 

Friesen is currently an associate professor of materials science in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. 

You can learn more about Friesen in this case study.