Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
December 23, 2025
Birchtech Wins $78M Patent Settlement to Expand Water Purification Tech
TLDR
- Birchtech Corp. gains a $78 million patent victory, securing market dominance and new utility contracts that could double its market share in the U.S. coal-fired power fleet.
- The court awarded Birchtech $78 million through pre- and post-judgment interest on a 2024 patent infringement verdict against refined coal companies, resolving final legal motions.
- Birchtech will use settlement funds to expand water purification technologies, removing harmful PFAS contaminants from drinking water more efficiently and sustainably for communities.
- Birchtech's patent win dates back to 2019 lawsuits against 43 defendants, with proceeds funding water projects that already have $900,000 in purchase orders.
Impact - Why it Matters
This legal victory has significant implications for both environmental protection and business innovation. For consumers and communities, Birchtech's expansion into water purification could lead to more effective and affordable solutions for removing dangerous contaminants like PFAS from drinking water, addressing a growing public health concern. For the energy sector, the ruling validates patented clean air technologies that help reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants, potentially accelerating adoption of these environmental controls. The substantial settlement provides Birchtech with capital to scale promising water treatment technologies while strengthening its position in the clean tech market, demonstrating how intellectual property protection can drive innovation in critical environmental sectors. This case also signals to other clean tech companies that patent enforcement can yield meaningful financial returns to fund further research and development.
Summary
Birchtech Corp., a clean tech company specializing in sustainable air and water treatment, has secured a major legal victory with a final judgment expected to reach approximately $78 million in its patent infringement lawsuit. The decision, issued by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher J. Burke, resolves outstanding issues from a March 2024 jury verdict against refined coal companies, awarding the initial $57 million verdict plus pre- and post-judgment interest. CEO Richard MacPherson hailed the ruling as "an unequivocal validation of our patented technology claims" that will enable significant market share expansion across the U.S. coal-fired power fleet, potentially doubling over the next few years as the company pursues new licensing and supply contracts with utilities using its mercury emissions capture technologies.
The legal victory culminates years of litigation dating back to July 2019 against 43 defendants, including four major power utilities and numerous refined coal companies. Following pre-trial settlements with some defendants in late 2023 and a jury trial with remaining CERT defendants, Birchtech secured its initial award, with the judge finding willful infringement along with inducing and contributory infringement. The company subsequently filed additional lawsuits in July 2024, which were consolidated in the Southern District of Iowa, where two defendants remain after others obtained license agreements. This complex legal journey demonstrates Birchtech's commitment to protecting its intellectual property in the competitive clean technology sector.
While the patents relate specifically to Birchtech's clean air technologies business, the substantial settlement proceeds will be strategically directed toward expanding and growing its water purification business. MacPherson emphasized that the funds will help the company "aggressively" advance new technologies for removing harmful contaminants like PFAS ("forever chemicals") from drinking water more efficiently, sustainably, and affordably than current alternatives. The water business already shows promising momentum with $900,000 in purchase orders from a mid-Atlantic power utility and a partnership with Civil & Environmental Consultants Inc. for customer testing. With a solid recurring revenue base from mercury emissions technologies and growing water purification opportunities, Birchtech anticipates executing operational catalysts over the next 12-18 months that could create sustainable long-term shareholder value. To learn more about Birchtech and the final settlement, click here for additional details on this significant development in environmental technology.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, Birchtech Wins $78M Patent Settlement to Expand Water Purification Tech
