Commercial fusion

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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]

Contents

Commercial fusion companies

CompanyYear foundedMethodFuelNotes
Avalanche Energy2018Hybrid: colliding beam, electrostatic confinementdeuterium–tritium [3]
Blue Laser Fusion2022Inertial confinementproton–boron [4]
Commonwealth Fusion Systems 2018Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium [5]
Compact Fusion Systems, Inc.2018[ citation needed ]
Crossfield Fusion Ltd2019Closed orbit, velocity resonant systemsReactor development canceled 2021. [6] [7]
CTFusion Inc 2015Ceased trading in 2023. [8]
Deutelio2022Magnetic confinementdeuterium–deuterium [7]
Electric Fusion Systems, Inc.2020Rydberg matter fuel-based fusionproton–lithium7 [9]
EMC2 Fusion1985 Polywell [10] [11]
Energy Singularity Fusion Power Technology2021Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium [12]
ENN Energy 2018Magnetic confinementproton–boron [13] [5]
EX-Fusion2021Inertial confinementdeuterium–tritium [14]
First Light Fusion 2011Inertial confinementdeuterium–tritium [15] [16] [7] [17] [5]
Focused Energy2021Inertial confinementdeuterium–tritium [18] [7] [17] [19]
Fuse2019Magneto-inertialdeuterium–tritium[ citation needed ]
Fusion Power Corporation2016Heavy ion fusiondeuterium–tritiumDissolved in 2019. [20]
Gauss Fusion2022Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium [7]
General Atomics Fusion Division2022Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium [21]
General Fusion 2002Magneto-inertialdeuterium–tritium [5]
HB11 Energy2017Non-thermal laser fusionproton–boron [22] [23] [24]
Helical Fusion2021Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium [14]
HelicitySpace Corporation2018Magneto-inertialdeuterium–deuteriumFor spaceflight uses [25]
Helion Energy 2013Magneto-inertialdeuterium–helium3 [26]
Horne Technologies2008Hybrid confinement: magnetic, electrostaticdeuterium–deuterium, proton–boron [27] [ better source needed ]
HyperJet Fusion [5]
Kyoto Fusioneering2019deuterium–tritium [14] [28]
LaserFusionX2022Inertial confinementdeuterium–tritium [19]
Lockheed Martin 2010 [29] [5]
Longview Fusion Energy Systems2021Inertial confinementdeuterium–tritium [17] [19]
LPP Fusion, Inc.[ citation needed ]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 [30]
Marvel Fusion2019Inertial confinementproton–boron [7] [19]
Norront Fusion Energy2017Muon-catalyzed fusion [31]
NT-Tao2019Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium [32]
NearStar Fusion2021Magneto-inertialdeuterium–tritium, deuterium–deuterium, proton–boron [33] [34]
NK Labs, LLC2008Muon-catalyzed fusiondeuterium–tritium [35]
Novatron Fusion Group AB2019Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium [36] [37] [38]
Openstar Technologies2021Magnetic confinementdeuterium–deuterium (tritium suppressed)[ citation needed ]
Princeton Fusion Systems1992Magnetic confinementdeuterium–helium3 [39] [5]
Proxima Fusion 2023Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium [7]
Realta Fusion2022Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium [40] [41]
Renaissance Fusion2021Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium [7]
Stellarex, Inc2022Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium [28]
SHINE Technologies 2005Magneto-electrostatic confinementdeuterium–tritiumSHINE's focus is radioisotope production, not energy. [42] [43]
TAE Technologies 1998Magnetic confinementproton–boronformerly Tri Alpha Energy [5]
Thea Energy (formerly Princeton Stellarators)2022Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium [28]
Tokamak Energy 2009Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium [28]
Type One Energy Group2019Magnetic confinementdeuterium–tritium [41]
Ultrafusion Nuclear PowerMerged with Norront Fusion AS in 2018. [31]
Xcimer Energy Inc.2022Inertial confinementdeuterium–tritium [17]
Zap Energy 2017Magnetic confinement pinchdeuterium–tritium [26]

First fusion electricity to the grid

Commercial fusion companies predict that fusion power is roughly 10 years away Commercial fusion electricity production predicitions.svg
Commercial fusion companies predict that fusion power is roughly 10 years away

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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuclear power</span> Power generated from nuclear reactions

Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions to produce electricity. Nuclear power can be obtained from nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion reactions. Presently, the vast majority of electricity from nuclear power is produced by nuclear fission of uranium and plutonium in nuclear power plants. Nuclear decay processes are used in niche applications such as radioisotope thermoelectric generators in some space probes such as Voyager 2. Energy production from controlled fusion power can potentially eliminate some resource restriction facing fission power, but it is not expected to be commercially available in the near future.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inertial confinement fusion</span> Branch of fusion energy research

Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) is a fusion energy process that initiates nuclear fusion reactions by compressing and heating targets filled with fuel. The targets are small pellets, typically containing deuterium (2H) and tritium (3H).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fusion power</span> Electricity generation through nuclear fusion

Fusion power is a proposed form of power generation that would generate electricity by using heat from nuclear fusion reactions. In a fusion process, two lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, while releasing energy. Devices designed to harness this energy are known as fusion reactors. Research into fusion reactors began in the 1940s, but as of 2024, no device has reached net power, although net positive reactions have been achieved.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuclear power plant</span> Thermal power station where the heat source is a nuclear reactor

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">ITER</span> International nuclear fusion research and engineering megaproject

ITER is an international nuclear fusion research and engineering megaproject aimed at creating energy through a fusion process similar to that of the Sun. It is being built next to the Cadarache facility in southern France. Upon completion of construction of the main reactor and first plasma, planned for 2033–2034, ITER will be the largest of more than 100 fusion reactors built since the 1950s, with six times the plasma volume of JT-60SA in Japan, the largest tokamak operating today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aneutronic fusion</span> Form of fusion power

Aneutronic fusion is any form of fusion power in which very little of the energy released is carried by neutrons. While the lowest-threshold nuclear fusion reactions release up to 80% of their energy in the form of neutrons, aneutronic reactions release energy in the form of charged particles, typically protons or alpha particles. Successful aneutronic fusion would greatly reduce problems associated with neutron radiation such as damaging ionizing radiation, neutron activation, reactor maintenance, and requirements for biological shielding, remote handling and safety.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosatom</span> Russian state-owned nuclear technologies company

State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, also known as Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation,, or Rosatom State Corporation, is a Russian state corporation headquartered in Moscow that specializes in nuclear energy, nuclear non-energy goods and high-tech products. It was established in 2007 and comprises more than 350 enterprises, including scientific research organizations, a nuclear weapons complex, and the world's only nuclear icebreaker fleet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fusion energy gain factor</span> Ratio of energy in to out in a fusion power plant

A fusion energy gain factor, usually expressed with the symbol Q, is the ratio of fusion power produced in a nuclear fusion reactor to the power required to maintain the plasma in steady state. The condition of Q = 1, when the power being released by the fusion reactions is equal to the required heating power, is referred to as breakeven, or in some sources, scientific breakeven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Japan</span>

Japan is a major consumer of energy, ranking fifth in the world by primary energy use. Fossil fuels accounted for 88% of Japan's primary energy in 2019. Japan imports most of its energy due to scarce domestic resources. As of 2022, the country imports 97% of its oil and is the larger liquefied natural gas (LNG) importer globally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hartlepool nuclear power station</span> Nuclear power station in Hartlepool, England

Hartlepool nuclear power station is a nuclear power station situated on the northern bank of the mouth of the River Tees, 2.5 mi south of Hartlepool in County Durham, North East England. The station has a net electrical output of 1,185 megawatts, which is 2% of Great Britain's peak electricity demand of 60 GW. Electricity is produced through the use of two advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGR). Hartlepool was only the third nuclear power station in the United Kingdom to use AGR technology. It was also the first nuclear power station to be built close to a major urban area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuclear power in France</span>

Since the mid 1980s, the largest source of electricity in France has been nuclear power, with a generation of 379.5 TWh in 2019 and a total electricity production of 537.7 TWh. In 2018, the nuclear share was 71.67%, the highest percentage in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuclear power in Russia</span>

Russia is one of the world's largest producers of nuclear energy. In 2020 total electricity generated in nuclear power plants in Russia was 215.746 TWh, 20.28% of all power generation. The installed gross capacity of Russian nuclear reactors is 29.4 GW in December 2020.

General Fusion is a Canadian company based in Richmond, British Columbia, which is developing a fusion power technology based on magnetized target fusion (MTF). The company was founded in 2002 by Dr. Michel Laberge. The company has more than 150 employees.

TAE Technologies, formerly Tri Alpha Energy, is an American company based in Foothill Ranch, California developing aneutronic fusion power. The company's design relies on an advanced beam-driven field-reversed configuration (FRC), which combines features from accelerator physics and other fusion concepts in a unique fashion, and is optimized for hydrogen-boron fuel, also known as proton-boron or p-11B. It regularly publishes theoretical and experimental results in academic journals with hundreds of publications and posters at scientific conferences and in a research library hosting these articles on its website. TAE has developed five generations of original fusion platforms with a sixth currently in development. It aims to manufacture a prototype commercial fusion reactor by 2030.

Helion Energy, Inc. is an American fusion research company, located in Everett, Washington. They are developing a magneto-inertial fusion technology to produce helium-3 and fusion power via aneutronic fusion, which could produce low-cost clean electric energy using a fuel that can be derived exclusively from water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laser Inertial Fusion Energy</span> Early 2010s fusion energy effort

LIFE, short for Laser Inertial Fusion Energy, was a fusion energy effort run at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory between 2008 and 2013. LIFE aimed to develop the technologies necessary to convert the laser-driven inertial confinement fusion concept being developed in the National Ignition Facility (NIF) into a practical commercial power plant, a concept known generally as inertial fusion energy (IFE). LIFE used the same basic concepts as NIF, but aimed to lower costs using mass-produced fuel elements, simplified maintenance, and diode lasers with higher electrical efficiency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Direct Fusion Drive</span> Conceptual rocket engine

Direct Fusion Drive (DFD) is a conceptual, low radioactivity, nuclear-fusion rocket engine, designed to produce both thrust and electric power, suitable for interplanetary spacecraft. The concept is based on the Princeton field-reversed configuration reactor, invented in 2002 by Samuel A. Cohen. It is being modeled and experimentally tested at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy facility, as well as modeled and evaluated by Princeton Satellite Systems (PSS). As of 2018, a direct fusion drive project driven by NASA is said to have entered its simulation phase, presented as the second phase of the concept's evolution.

The history of nuclear fusion began early in the 20th century as an inquiry into how stars powered themselves and expanded to incorporate a broad inquiry into the nature of matter and energy, as potential applications expanded to include warfare, energy production and rocket propulsion.

Zap Energy is an American company that aims to commercialize fusion power through use of a sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch. The company is based near Seattle with research facilities in Everett and Mukilteo, Washington. The company aims to scale their technology to maintain plasma stability at increasingly higher energy levels, with the goal of achieving scientific breakeven and eventual commercial profitability.

Last Energy is an American commercial developer of micro-modular nuclear power plants, established in 2019 by Bret Kugelmass as the commercial spinoff of the Energy Impact Center, an American clean energy research institute.

References

  1. ↑ The global fusion industry in 2023 - Fusion Companies Survey by the Fusion Industry Association (PDF) (Report). Fusion Industry Association. 12 July 2023. p. 3. Retrieved 13 July 2023. The headline number for this report is that the fusion industry has now attracted over $6 billion in investment.
  2. ↑ Hiller, Jennifer; Niiler, Eric; Woodward, Aylin (12 December 2022). "U.S. to Announce Nuclear-Fusion Energy Breakthrough". Wall Street Journal . Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  3. ↑ Stiffler, Lisa (2023-04-24). "'Desktop fusion' startup Avalanche Energy lands $40M and logs new tech achievement". GeekWire.com.
  4. ↑ Yamada, Ryotaro (23 July 2023). "Nuclear fusion race draws in Nobel-winning LED pioneer". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Clynes, Tom (28 Jan 2020). "5 Big Ideas for Making Fusion Power a Reality". IEEE Spectrum . Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers . Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "Mission". Crossfield Fusion. Retrieved 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.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Bacon, Alexandra (27 July 2023). "Mapping Europe's nuclear fusion industry". Sifted . Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  8. ↑ Stiffler, Lisa (5 April 2023). "Energy startup CTFusion folds as co-founders land at rival Zap". GeekWire. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  9. ↑ Emilio, Maurizio Di Paolo (8 July 2021). "EFS Plans Aneutronic Fusion Reactor". EE Times Asia. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  10. ↑ "Low-Cost Fusion Project Steps Out of the Shadows and Looks for Money". NBC News . 13 June 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  11. ↑ Ventura, Tim (13 December 2019). "Robert Bussard on IEC Fusion Power & The Polywell Reactor". Dialogue & Discourse. Medium . Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  12. ↑ Li, Stephanie (4 May 2023). "Chinese nuclear-tech firm Energy Singularity raises $58m funding". DealStreetAsia. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  13. ↑ Barcelo, Yan (1 November 2022). "Nuclear Fusion May Be Nearer Than You Think". Morningstar . Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  14. 1 2 3 Foster, Scott (30 May 2023). "Japan's fusion start-ups starting to roll in money". Asia Times . Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  15. ↑ Andrews, Charlotte; Stern, Jeremy (14 July 2023). "Oxfordshire start-up hopes to transform nuclear fusion production". BBC News . Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  16. ↑ "First Light Fusion demonstration plant site agreement, targets 2024 construction start". World Nuclear News. World Nuclear Association. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Clery, Daniel (15 February 2023). "Startups try to turn laser fusion success into clean power plants". Science . Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  18. ↑ Henrikson, Eric (20 June 2023). "Austin-based company attempts to design fusion power plant in Texas". KXAN-TV . Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  19. 1 2 3 4 Kramer, David (March 2023). "NIF success gives laser fusion energy a shot in the arm". Physics Today . 76 (3): 25–27. Bibcode:2023PhT....76c..25K. doi: 10.1063/PT.3.5195 . S2CID   257301499 . Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  20. ↑ "Fusion Power Corporation". Canada Company Directory. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  21. ↑ Nikolewski, Rob (2 June 2023). "A step closer to making nuclear fusion a reality? San Diego's General Atomics partners with UK company". San Diego Union-Tribune . Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  22. ↑ Davidson, John (2 August 2023). "US backs Sydney fusion start-up's nuclear ambitions". Australian Financial Review . Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  23. ↑ 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 (January 2022). "In-Target Proton–Boron Nuclear Fusion Using a PW-Class Laser". Applied Sciences . 12 (3): 1444. doi: 10.3390/app12031444 . ISSN   2076-3417.
  24. ↑ Jones, Jonathan Spencer (31 March 2022). "Australia's HB11 Energy demonstrates laser-powered nuclear fusion". Power Engineering International . Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  25. ↑ 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. Bibcode:2021APS..DPPTP1076M.
  26. 1 2 Harris, Mark (29 June 2023). "Welcome to Fusion City, USA". IEEE Spectrum . Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers . Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  27. ↑ Meschini, Samuele; Laviano, Francesco; Ledda, Federico; Pettinari, Davide; Testoni, Raffella; Torsello, Daniele; Panella, Bruno (August 2023). "Review of commercial nuclear fusion projects". Frontiers in Energy Research . 11. doi: 10.3389/fenrg.2023.1157394 . ISSN   2296-598X.
  28. 1 2 3 4 "FY2023 Awards Announced by DOE « INFUSE". Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  29. ↑ Clery, Daniel (17 October 2014). "Updated: Are old secrets behind Lockheed's new fusion machine?". Science . Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  30. ↑ Whittington, Mark (28 February 2021). "Solving the climate and energy crises: Mine the Moon's helium-3?". The Hill . Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  31. 1 2 "Developing new clean energy solutions from nuclear fusion (announcement)". GU Ventures (Swedish Government owned, University of Gothenburg managed (in Swedish). 2 April 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  32. ↑ Lisbona, Natalie (27 April 2023). "The Israeli plan to fit a fusion reactor into a container". BBC News . Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  33. ↑ Hronik, Richard H. (24 March 2023). "Local fusion energy company commissions new experiment". Fairfax County Times. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  34. ↑ Brain, Marshall (19 May 2023). "Climate hope: Fusion dream moving closer to reality as clean power source". WRAL-TV TechWire. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  35. ↑ Knaian, Ara (7 April 2020). "Conditions for High-Yield Muon Catalyzed Fusion". Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). US Department of Energy . Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  36. ↑ Ericsson, Lisa (6 December 2022). "Fusion energy is focus of KTH investment (announcement)". KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Press release). Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  37. ↑ Lindsten, Per Olof (23 May 2023). "Fusion, edible bottles and electric aircraft: here are three hot Swedish projects". Google Translate . Dagens industri . Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  38. ↑ Cyrus, Callum (8 December 2022). "Looking to deliver fusion reactors from 2040 onwards, Novatron raises €3 million seed round". Tech.eu. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  39. ↑ Paluszek, Michael (15 November 2018). "Next-Generation PFRC". Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) (Press release). US Department of Energy . Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  40. ↑ Nykiel, Teddy (5 June 2023). "Madison fusion energy startup lands $12 million to decarbonize heavy industry". Milwaukee Business Journal . Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  41. 1 2 Heidemann, Emilie (1 June 2023). "2 Madison-area companies get federal money to help curb climate change through fusion energy". Wisconsin State Journal . Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  42. ↑ Rude, Logan (3 August 2023). "Local fusion technology company takes step forward in developing small-scale nuclear reactions". WISC-TV .
  43. ↑ Still, Tom (19 December 2022). "Fusion energy breakthrough is huge, but other uses will come first". Wisconsin State Journal . Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  44. ↑ Nathaniel Scharping (23 May 2016). "Why Nuclear Fusion Is Always 30 Years Away". Discover Magazine. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  45. ↑ "Why LIFE: Ready to Make History". Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. 24 July 2012. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. The standard joke about fusion is that it is 50 years away and always will be.
  46. ↑ The global fusion industry in 2023 - Fusion Companies Survey by the Fusion Industry Association (PDF) (Report). Fusion Industry Association. 12 July 2023. p. 3. Retrieved 13 July 2023. In this report, 25 companies think the first fusion plant will deliver electricity to the grid before 2035.
  47. ↑ "General Fusion: Investor". General Fusion. Archived from the original on 2 September 2003. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
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