ClearSign Technologies Corporation Provides First Quarter 2024 Update

Rhea-AI Summary

ClearSign Technologies (Nasdaq: CLIR) reported significant progress in Q1 2024, with revenue increasing to $1.1 million from $900k in Q1 2023. Key achievements include successful burner installations at Kern Energy, leading to additional orders, and a new multi-boiler burner order from California Boiler. The company's technology has been validated through new BACT emissions thresholds in California, enhancing its market position. ClearSign closed an equity offering post-quarters with net proceeds of $8.7 million, bolstering cash reserves to $4.6 million as of March 31, 2024. The company aims for increased customer acceptance and sales momentum.

Positive

• Revenue increased to $1.1 million in Q1 2024 from $900k in Q1 2023.
• Successful installation and start-up of multi-burner heaters at Kern Energy.
• Additional orders received for burner engineering at Kern Energy.
• New BACT emissions thresholds in California validate ClearSign's technology.
• First multi-boiler burner order received from California Boiler.
• Equity offering raised $8.7 million, boosting financial reserves.

Negative

• Relying on equity offerings may lead to shareholder dilution.
• Cash reserves of $4.6 million may require careful financial management to sustain operations.

Insights

Financial Analyst

ClearSign Technologies Corporation has reported a record first quarter revenue of $1.1 million for 2024, marking a 22% increase from the $900 thousand in the same period last year. This growth is a positive indicator of the company's enhanced market demand and operational efficiency. However, it's important to assess whether this revenue increase is sustainable or a one-time occurrence.

The company's successful startup of multi-burner heaters and additional orders from Kern Energy highlight strong customer validation and confidence in ClearSign's technology. Such repeat business can often lead to long-term revenue streams and client loyalty.

With $4.6 million in cash and equivalents, bolstered by an additional $8.7 million from a recent equity offering, the company appears to have a solid financial cushion to fuel further growth and innovation. However, the company must manage its cash burn rate effectively to avoid future liquidity issues.

Retail investors should watch for ClearSign's ability to convert these operational successes into sustained revenue growth and profitability. Consistent performance could lead to increased investor confidence and potentially higher stock prices in the long run.

Market Research Analyst

ClearSign's technological advancements, specifically the Best Available Control Technology (BACT) determinations for both single and multi-process burner heaters, are essential. The endorsement from the South Coast Air Quality Management District of California (SCAQMD) positions ClearSign as a leader in emissions reduction technology, which is increasingly vital in today's regulatory environment.

The order from California Boiler and the letter of intent for four boilers underline growing acceptance and market penetration of ClearSign's Core™ burners. This development can potentially open doors to new clients and partnerships, expanding ClearSign's market share.

Additionally, the upcoming startup of a 1200hp boiler burner for a recycling customer in California could serve as a significant industry showcase, potentially attracting further business if the installation proves successful.

For investors, these strategic milestones suggest that ClearSign is on a positive trajectory in terms of market impact and technological validation, which could drive future sales and revenue growth.

Tech Expert

ClearSign's advancements in combustion and sensing technologies, particularly their process and boiler burners, demonstrate significant innovation in energy and operational efficiency. Lowering emissions to meet new California BACT thresholds is a notable achievement, positioning ClearSign's technology as environmentally superior and regulatory compliant.

The practical implications for industrial clients, such as Kern Energy, include more efficient operations and reduced environmental impact, which can translate into cost savings and improved regulatory compliance. This could make ClearSign's offerings more attractive compared to traditional solutions.

For investors, the key takeaway is the market differentiation ClearSign achieves through its advanced combustion technology. This differentiation could lead to higher market demand and, consequently, better financial performance as industries increasingly prioritize sustainability.

TULSA, Okla., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ClearSign Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: CLIR) ("ClearSign" or the "Company"), an emerging leader in industrial combustion and sensing technologies that improve energy, operational efficiency and safety while dramatically reducing emissions, today provides an update on operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

"We ended 2023 carrying some commercial momentum and that has carried into the current year," said Jim Deller, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of ClearSign. "We have delivered and started significant process burner installations, some of which have resulted in additional orders, as seen with Kern Energy. In addition, we believe that having the performance of our process burner technology assessed to establish new California Best Available Control Technology (BACT) emissions thresholds, that were finalized in February, is another meaningful validating factor for our technology. We now also have operational boiler burner installations providing references in that product line, and we received our first order from a multi-boiler burner commitment in February. We also expect that the upcoming 1200hp 2.5ppm NOx boiler burner startup for a recycling customer California will be a significant industry event. In general, we believe customer awareness of, and confidence in our products is building, and we look forward to increased acceptance and sales of our technologies," concluded Dr. Deller. 

Recent strategic and operational highlights during, and subsequent to, the end of the first quarter 2024 include:

Company Reported Record First Quarter Revenue: The Company reported First Quarter Revenue of $1.1 million compared to $900 thousand for the first quarter of 2023. 

Announced Successful Start-Up of Second Multi-Burner Heater at Kern Energy: The five-burner heater had a successful start-up with independent source testing confirming emissions levels below guarantee. This follows the successful installation and start-up of the first eight-burner heater in January.

Received Orders for the Engineering of Burners for Two Additional Heaters at Kern Energy: ClearSign received two additional purchase orders to complete the detailed engineering of burners for the retrofitting of two more process heaters in the California refinery for a total of four burners. These orders follow the recent successful installations of two multi burner heater orders at Kern Energy's refinery site. Like previous orders, this initial engineering is anticipated to be followed by purchase orders for the manufacture and supply of burners.

Received Best Available Control Technology (BACT) Determinations for Single and Multi-Process Burner Heaters: ClearSign's process burner performance has been assessed as part of the South Coast Air Quality Management District of California (SCAQMD) periodic public participation process to enhance existing BACT determinations and its results have contributed to the establishment of new BACT emissions limits for both single and multi-burner configurations.

Received First Multi-Boiler Burner Purchase: Our partner, California Boiler, received a letter of intent for four boilers to be fitted with the ClearSign Core™ (Rogue) burners as well as the purchase order for the first boiler of the series. California Boiler has in turn placed their order with ClearSign for the first burner.

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were approximately $4.6 million as of March 31, 2024. Subsequent to the quarter, the Company closed an equity offering with net proceeds of approximately $8.7 including the overallotment exercised in full on May 10, 2024.

There were 39,043,023 shares of the Company's common stock issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024.

The Company will be hosting a call at 5:00 PM ET today. Investors interested in participating on the live call can dial 1-800-836-8184 within the U.S. or 1-646-357-8785 from abroad. Investors can also access the call online through a listen-only webcast at https://app.webinar.net/RQPvEXxEdOm or on the investor relations section of the Company's website at http://ir.clearsign.com/overview.

The webcast will be archived on the Company's investor relations website for at least 90 days and a telephonic playback of the conference call will be available by calling 1-888-660-6345 within the U.S. or 1-646-517-4150 from abroad. Conference ID #33881. The telephonic playback will be available for 7 days after the conference call.

About ClearSign Technologies Corporation

ClearSign Technologies Corporation designs and develops products and technologies for the purpose of improving key performance characteristics of industrial and commercial systems, including operational performance, energy efficiency, emission reduction, safety and overall cost-effectiveness. Our patented technologies, embedded in established OEM products as ClearSign Core™ and ClearSign Eye™ and other sensing configurations, enhance the performance of combustion systems and fuel safety systems in a broad range of markets, including the energy (upstream oil production and down-stream refining), commercial/industrial boiler, chemical, petrochemical, transport and power industries. For more information, please visit www.clearsign.com. 

Cautionary note on forward-looking statements

All statements in this press release that are not based on historical fact are "forward-looking statements." You can find many (but not all) of these statements by looking for words such as "approximates," "believes," "hopes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "projects," "intends," "plans," "would," "should," "could," "may," "will" or other similar expressions. While management has based any forward-looking statements included in this press release on its current expectations on the Company's strategy, plans, intentions, performance, or future occurrences or results, the information on which such expectations were based may change. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of the Company's control, that could cause actual results to materially differ from such statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to successfully deliver, install, and meet the performance obligations of the Company's burners in the California and Texas market, and any other markets the Company may sell products in; the Company's ability to further expand the sale of ultra-low NOx process and boiler burners; the Company's ability to successfully perform engineering orders; the Company's ability to successfully develop the 100% hydrogen burner with the Phase 2 grant funding; general business and economic conditions; the performance of management and the Company's employees; the Company's ability to obtain financing, when needed; the Company's ability to compete with competitors; whether the Company's technology will be accepted and adopted and other factors identified in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov and other factors that are detailed in the Company's periodic and current reports available for review at www.sec.gov. Furthermore, the Company operates in a competitive environment where new and unanticipated risks may arise. Accordingly, investors should not place any reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The Company disclaims any intention to, and, except as may be required by law, undertakes no obligation to, update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur or of which the Company hereafter become aware.

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ClearSign Technologies Corporation and Subsidiary
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)		March 31,			December 31,
		2024			2023
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	4,624		$	5,684
Accounts receivable, net			569			287
Contract assets			—			188
Prepaid expenses and other assets			349			350
Total current assets			5,542			6,509
Fixed assets, net			247			275
Patents and other intangible assets, net			831			836
Total Assets		$	6,620		$	7,620
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		$	617		$	366
Current portion of lease liabilities			66			71
Accrued compensation and related taxes			281			703
Contract liabilities			1,038			1,116
Total current liabilities			2,002			2,256
Long Term Liabilities:
Long term lease liabilities			157			172
Total liabilities			2,159			2,428
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)
Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, zero shares issued and outstanding			—			—
Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 39,043,023 and 38,687,061 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively			4			4
Additional paid-in capital			99,302			98,922
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(20)			(17)
Accumulated deficit			(94,825)			(93,717)
Total equity			4,461			5,192
Total Liabilities and Equity		$	6,620		$	7,620
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

ClearSign Technologies Corporation and Subsidiary
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)		For the Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2024			2023
Revenues		$	1,102		$	894
Cost of goods sold			665			788
Gross profit			437			106
Operating expenses:
Research and development			281			160
General and administrative			1,408			1,650
Total operating expenses			1,689			1,810
Loss from operations			(1,252)			(1,704)
Other income
Interest			61			58
Government assistance			79			93
Gain from sale of assets			—			5
Other income, net			4			119
Total other income			144			275
Net loss		$	(1,108)		$	(1,429)
Net loss per share - basic and fully diluted		$	(0.03)		$	(0.04)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic and fully diluted			38,848,098			38,262,710
Comprehensive loss
Net loss		$	(1,108)		$	(1,429)
Foreign-exchange translation adjustments			(3)			—
Comprehensive loss		$	(1,111)		$	(1,429)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SOURCE ClearSign Technologies Corporation

FAQ

What was ClearSign Technologies' revenue for Q1 2024?

ClearSign Technologies reported a revenue of $1.1 million for Q1 2024.

What progress has ClearSign Technologies made with Kern Energy?

ClearSign successfully installed and started multi-burner heaters at Kern Energy, resulting in additional orders.

What is the significance of the new BACT emissions thresholds for ClearSign Technologies?

The new BACT emissions thresholds in California validate ClearSign's burner technology, enhancing its market position.

How much did ClearSign Technologies raise from their recent equity offering?

ClearSign Technologies raised $8.7 million from their recent equity offering.

What is ClearSign Technologies' cash position as of March 31, 2024?

ClearSign Technologies had cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaling $4.6 million as of March 31, 2024.

What new orders has ClearSign Technologies received?

ClearSign received orders for additional burner engineering at Kern Energy and a multi-boiler burner order from California Boiler.