Commercial fusion explained

Commercial Fusion is a term used to refer to privately owned companies whose aim is to sell electricity produced by nuclear fusion. The industry now consists of over 40 companies who have attracted a combined total of more than $6 billion in investment.[1] [2]

Commercial fusion companies

CompanyYear foundedMethodFuelNotes
Avalanche Energy2018Hybrid: colliding beam, electrostatic confinementdeuterium–tritium[3]
Blue Laser Fusion2022Inertial confinementproton–boron[4]
Commonwealth Fusion Systems2018Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium
Compact Fusion Systems, Inc.2018
Crossfield Fusion Ltd2019Closed orbit, velocity resonant systemsReactor development canceled 2021.[5]
CTFusion Inc2015Ceased trading in 2023.[6]
Deutelio2022Magnetic confinementdeuterium–deuterium
Electric Fusion Systems, Inc.2020Rydberg matter fuel-based fusionproton–lithium7[7]
EMC2 Fusion1985Polywell[8] [9]
Energy Singularity Fusion Power Technology2021Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium[10]
ENN Energy2018Magnetic confinementproton–boron[11] [12]
EX-Fusion2021Inertial confinementdeuterium–tritium[13]
First Light Fusion2011Inertial confinementdeuterium–tritium[14] [15]
Focused Energy2021Inertial confinementdeuterium–tritium[16]
Fuse2019Magneto-inertialdeuterium–tritium
Fusion Power Corporation2016Heavy ion fusiondeuterium–tritiumDissolved in 2019.[17]
Gauss Fusion2022Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium[18]
General Atomics Fusion Division2022Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium[19]
General Fusion2002Magneto-inertialdeuterium–tritium
HB11 Energy2017Non-thermal laser fusionproton–boron[20] [21] [22]
Helical Fusion2021Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium
HelicitySpace Corporation2018Magneto-inertialdeuterium–deuteriumFor spaceflight uses[23]
Helion Energy2013Magneto-inertialdeuterium–helium3[24]
Horne Technologies2008Hybrid confinement: magnetic, electrostaticdeuterium–deuterium, proton–boron[25]
HyperJet Fusion
Kyoto Fusioneering2019deuterium–tritium
LaserFusionX2022Inertial confinementdeuterium–tritium[26]
Lockheed Martin2010[27]
Longview Fusion Energy Systems2021Inertial confinementdeuterium–tritium[28]
LPP Fusion, Inc. 2003Magnetic confinement pinchproton–boronAlso known as "Lawrenceville Plasma Physics"; see Eric J. Lerner article
Magneto Inertial Fusion Technology Inc. (MIFTI)2009Magneto-inertialdeuterium–tritiumDivision of US Nuclear Corp[29]
Marvel Fusion2019Inertial confinementproton–boron
Norront Fusion Energy2017Muon-catalyzed fusion
NT-Tao2019Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium[30]
NearStar Fusion2021Magneto-inertialdeuterium–tritium, deuterium–deuterium, proton–boron[31] [32]
NK Labs, LLC2008Muon-catalyzed fusiondeuterium–tritium[33]
Novatron Fusion Group AB2019Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium[34] [35] [36]
Openstar Technologies2021Magnetic confinementdeuterium–deuterium (tritium suppressed)
Princeton Fusion Systems1992Magnetic confinementdeuterium–helium3[37]
Proxima Fusion2023Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium
Realta Fusion2022Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium[38]
Renaissance Fusion2021Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium
Stellarex, Inc2022Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium[39]
SHINE Technologies2005Magneto-electrostatic confinementdeuterium–tritiumSHINE's focus is radioisotope production, not energy.[40] [41]
TAE Technologies1998Magnetic confinementproton–boronformerly Tri Alpha Energy
Thea Energy (formerly Princeton Stellarators)2022Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium
Tokamak Energy2009Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium
Type One Energy Group2019Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium[42]
Ultrafusion Nuclear PowerMerged with Norront Fusion AS in 2018.[43]
Xcimer Energy Inc.2022Inertial confinementdeuterium–tritium
Zap Energy2017Magnetic confinement pinchdeuterium–tritium

First fusion electricity to the grid

For decades researchers have famously said that fusion power is always 30, or even 50, years away.[44] [45] The advent of commercial fusion has changed that, and now fusion power is typically predicted to be around 10 years away, with most companies predicting that the first fusion plant will deliver electricity to the grid before 2035.[46] Although the majority of the companies have only existed for a few years, some have already failed to deliver on their predictions. General Fusion first predicted that it would deliver electricity to the grid by 2009.[47]

Notes and References

  1. 12 July 2023. The global fusion industry in 2023 - Fusion Companies Survey by the Fusion Industry Association . Fusion Industry Association . 3 . 13 July 2023 . The headline number for this report is that the fusion industry has now attracted over $6 billion in investment..
  2. Web site: Hiller . Jennifer . Niiler . Eric . Woodward . Aylin . U.S. to Announce Nuclear-Fusion Energy Breakthrough . . 2 August 2023 . 12 December 2022.
  3. News: Lisa . Stiffler . 2023-04-24 . 'Desktop fusion' startup Avalanche Energy lands $40M and logs new tech achievement . GeekWire.com.
  4. News: Yamada . Ryotaro . 23 July 2023 . Nuclear fusion race draws in Nobel-winning LED pioneer . Nikkei Asia . 2 August 2023.
  5. Web site: Mission . Crossfield Fusion . 2 August 2023 . The company adopted a new approach to building fusion reactors based on patented technology (US8138692) called the Epicyclotron. The company was founded in 2019 and developed a working fusion device in 2021 based on this approach. In October 2021 the company determined through the experimentation work completed and detailed ‘particle in cell’ modelling of loss mechanisms that the reactor would not scale as initially anticipated (and therefore could not be developed to deliver a net gain fusion reactor). The company is currently exploring the use of this technology they developed in hydrogen isotope separation as part of the fusion fuel cycle..
  6. News: Stiffler . Lisa . 5 April 2023 . Energy startup CTFusion folds as co-founders land at rival Zap . GeekWire . 13 July 2023.
  7. News: Emilio . Maurizio Di Paolo . EFS Plans Aneutronic Fusion Reactor . EE Times Asia . 2 August 2023 . en . 8 July 2021.
  8. News: . 13 June 2014 . Low-Cost Fusion Project Steps Out of the Shadows and Looks for Money . . 2 August 2023 . en.
  9. Web site: Ventura . Tim . 13 December 2019 . Robert Bussard on IEC Fusion Power & The Polywell Reactor . Dialogue & Discourse . . 2 August 2023 . en.
  10. News: Li . Stephanie . 4 May 2023 . Chinese nuclear-tech firm Energy Singularity raises $58m funding . DealStreetAsia . 2 August 2023 . en.
  11. Web site: Barcelo . Yan . Nuclear Fusion May Be Nearer Than You Think . . 2 August 2023 . en-CA . 1 November 2022.
  12. Web site: Clynes . Tom . 5 Big Ideas for Making Fusion Power a Reality . . . 6 August 2023 . en . 28 Jan 2020.
  13. Web site: Foster . Scott . Japan's fusion start-ups starting to roll in money . . 2 August 2023 . 30 May 2023.
  14. News: Andrews . Charlotte . Stern . Jeremy . 14 July 2023 . Oxfordshire start-up hopes to transform nuclear fusion production . . 4 August 2023.
  15. News: 25 January 2023 . First Light Fusion demonstration plant site agreement, targets 2024 construction start . World Nuclear News . . 4 August 2023.
  16. News: Henrikson . Eric . 20 June 2023 . Austin-based company attempts to design fusion power plant in Texas . . 4 August 2023.
  17. Web site: Fusion Power Corporation . 21 June 2023 . Canada Company Directory . 13 July 2023.
  18. Web site: Bacon . Alexandra . Mapping Europe's nuclear fusion industry . . 4 August 2023 . 27 July 2023.
  19. Web site: Nikolewski . Rob . A step closer to making nuclear fusion a reality? San Diego's General Atomics partners with UK company . . 5 August 2023 . 2 June 2023.
  20. Web site: Davidson . John . US backs Sydney fusion start-up's nuclear ambitions . . 5 August 2023 . en . 2 August 2023.
  21. Margarone . Daniele . Bonvalet . Julien . Giuffrida . Lorenzo . Morace . Alessio . Kantarelou . Vasiliki . Tosca . Marco . Raffestin . Didier . Nicolai . Philippe . Picciotto . Antonino . Abe . Yuki . Arikawa . Yasunobu . Fujioka . Shinsuke . Fukuda . Yuji . Kuramitsu . Yasuhiro . Habara . Hideaki . Batani . Dimitri . In-Target Proton–Boron Nuclear Fusion Using a PW-Class Laser . . January 2022 . 12 . 3 . 1444 . 10.3390/app12031444 . en . 2076-3417 . free.
  22. Web site: Jones . Jonathan Spencer . Australia's HB11 Energy demonstrates laser-powered nuclear fusion . . 5 August 2023 . 31 March 2022.
  23. Marin . Natalija . Warznak . Grace . You . Setthivoine . Bellan . Paul . Pree . Seth . Romero-Talamás . Carlos . University of Maryland . Baltimore County Team . 1 January 2021 . Engineering Design and Testing of the HelicitySpace Novel Rocket Concept . APS Division of Plasma Physics Meeting Abstracts . 2021 . TP11.076 . 2021APS..DPPTP1076M .
  24. News: Harris . Mark . 29 June 2023 . Welcome to Fusion City, USA . . . 6 August 2023 . en.
  25. Meschini . Samuele . Laviano . Francesco . Ledda . Federico . Pettinari . Davide . Testoni . Raffella . Torsello . Daniele . Panella . Bruno . August 2023 . Review of commercial nuclear fusion projects . . 11 . 10.3389/fenrg.2023.1157394 . 2296-598X . free.
  26. Kramer . David . NIF success gives laser fusion energy a shot in the arm . . March 2023 . 76 . 3 . 25–27 . 10.1063/PT.3.5195 . 257301499 . 5 August 2023. free . 2023PhT....76c..25K.
  27. Clery . Daniel . 17 October 2014 . Updated: Are old secrets behind Lockheed's new fusion machine? . . 5 August 2023.
  28. Clery . Daniel . 15 February 2023 . Startups try to turn laser fusion success into clean power plants . . 5 August 2023.
  29. News: Whittington . Mark . 28 February 2021 . Solving the climate and energy crises: Mine the Moon's helium-3? . . 5 August 2023.
  30. News: Lisbona . Natalie . 27 April 2023 . The Israeli plan to fit a fusion reactor into a container . . 5 August 2023.
  31. News: Hronik . Richard H. . 24 March 2023 . Local fusion energy company commissions new experiment . Fairfax County Times . 5 August 2023 . en.
  32. News: Brain . Marshall . Marshall Brain . 19 May 2023 . Climate hope: Fusion dream moving closer to reality as clean power source . WRAL-TV TechWire . 5 August 2023.
  33. Web site: Knaian . Ara . 7 April 2020 . Conditions for High-Yield Muon Catalyzed Fusion . Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) . . 5 August 2023 . en.
  34. Ericsson . Lisa . 6 December 2022 . Fusion energy is focus of KTH investment (announcement) . . 5 August 2023.
  35. Web site: Lindsten . Per Olof . 23 May 2023 . Fusion, edible bottles and electric aircraft: here are three hot Swedish projects . . . 4 August 2023.
  36. Web site: Cyrus . Callum . 8 December 2022 . Looking to deliver fusion reactors from 2040 onwards, Novatron raises €3 million seed round . Tech.eu . 4 August 2023.
  37. Paluszek . Michael . 15 November 2018 . Next-Generation PFRC . Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) . . en . 5 August 2023.
  38. Web site: Nykiel . Teddy . Madison fusion energy startup lands $12 million to decarbonize heavy industry . . 4 August 2023 . 5 June 2023.
  39. Web site: FY2023 Awards Announced by DOE « INFUSE . . 5 August 2023 . 25 July 2023.
  40. Web site: Rude . Logan . Local fusion technology company takes step forward in developing small-scale nuclear reactions . . en . 3 August 2023.
  41. Web site: Still . Tom . Fusion energy breakthrough is huge, but other uses will come first . . 4 August 2023 . en . 19 December 2022.
  42. News: Heidemann . Emilie . 1 June 2023 . 2 Madison-area companies get federal money to help curb climate change through fusion energy . . 6 August 2023 . en.
  43. Web site: Developing new clean energy solutions from nuclear fusion (announcement) . GU Ventures (Swedish Government owned, University of Gothenburg managed . 6 August 2023 . sv . 2 April 2019.
  44. Web site: Why Nuclear Fusion Is Always 30 Years Away . Nathaniel Scharping . 23 May 2016 . Discover Magazine . 13 July 2023.
  45. Web site: Why LIFE: Ready to Make History . 24 July 2012 . Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory . https://web.archive.org/web/20120724053507/https://life.llnl.gov/why_life/ready_to_make_history.php . 24 July 2012 . The standard joke about fusion is that it is 50 years away and always will be..
  46. 12 July 2023. The global fusion industry in 2023 - Fusion Companies Survey by the Fusion Industry Association . Fusion Industry Association . 3 . 13 July 2023 . In this report, 25 companies think the first fusion plant will deliver electricity to the grid before 2035..
  47. Web site: General Fusion: Investor . General Fusion . https://web.archive.org/web/20030902054635/http://www.generalfusion.com/investor.html . 2 September 2003 . 13 July 2023.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Commercial fusion".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.