Physics:Commercial fusion
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
Company | Year founded | Approach | Fuel | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Avalanche Energy | 2018 | Hybrid electrostatic confinement | deuterium - tritium | [3] |
Blue Laser Fusion | 2022 | Inertial confinement | proton - boron | [4] |
Commonwealth Fusion Systems | 2018 | Magnetic confinement | deuterium - tritium | [5] |
Compact Fusion Systems, Inc. | 2018 | |||
Crossfield Fusion Ltd | 2019 | Closed orbit, velocity resonant systems | Reactor development canceled 2021.[6][7] | |
CTFusion Inc | 2015 | Ceased trading in 2023.[8] | ||
Deutelio | 2022 | Magnetic confinement | deuterium - deuterium | [7] |
Electric Fusion Systems, Inc. | 2020 | Rydberg matter fuel-based fusion | proton - lithium7 | [9] |
EMC2 Fusion | 1985 | Polywell | [10][11] | |
Energy Singularity Fusion Power Technology | 2021 | Magnetic confinement | deuterium - tritium | [12] |
ENN Energy | 2018 | Magnetic confinement | proton - boron | [13][5] |
EX-Fusion | 2021 | Inertial confinement | deuterium - tritium | [14] |
First Light Fusion | 2011 | Inertial confinement | deuterium - tritium | [15][16][7][17][5] |
Focused Energy | 2021 | Inertial confinement | deuterium - tritium | [18][7][17][19] |
Fuse | 2019 | Magneto-inertial | deuterium - tritium | |
Fusion Power Corporation | 2016 | Heavy ion fusion | deuterium - tritium | Dissolved in 2019.[20] |
Gauss Fusion | 2022 | Magnetic confinement | deuterium - tritium | [7] |
General Atomics Fusion Division | 2022 | Magnetic confinement | deuterium - tritium | [21] |
General Fusion | 2002 | Magneto-inertial | deuterium - tritium | [5] |
HB11 Energy | 2017 | Non-thermal laser fusion | proton - boron | [22][23][24] |
Helical Fusion | 2021 | Magnetic confinement | deuterium - tritium | [14] |
HelicitySpace Corporation | 2018 | Magneto-inertial | deuterium - deuterium | Targeting spaceflight applications[25] |
Helion Energy | 2013 | Magneto-inertial | deuterium - helium3 | [26] |
Horne Technologies | 2008 | Hybrid magnetic and electrostatic confinement | deuterium - deuterium, proton - boron | |
HyperJet Fusion | [5] | |||
Kyoto Fusioneering | 2019 | deuterium - tritium | [14][27] | |
LaserFusionX | 2022 | Inertial confinement | deuterium - tritium | [19] |
Lockheed Martin | 2010 | [28][5] | ||
Longview Fusion Energy Systems | 2021 | Inertial confinement | deuterium - tritium | [17][19] |
2003 | Magnetic confinement | proton - boron | Also known as "Lawrenceville Plasma Physics" - see Eric J. Lerner article | |
Magneto Inertial Fusion Technology Inc. (MIFTI) | 2009 | Magneto-inertial | deuterium - tritium | Division of US Nuclear Corp[29] |
Marvel Fusion | 2019 | Inertial confinement | proton - boron | [7][19] |
Norront Fusion Energy | 2017 | Muon-catalyzed fusion | [30] | |
Noverant Fusion Group AB | 2019 | [31][32] | ||
NT-Tao | 2019 | Magnetic confinement | deuterium - tritium | [33] |
NearStar Fusion | 2021 | Magneto-inertial | deuterium - tritium, deuterium - deuterium, proton - boron | |
NK Labs, LLC | 2008 | Muon-catalyzed fusion | deuterium - tritium | [34] |
Novatron Fusion Group AB | 2019 | Magnetic confinement | deuterium - tritium | [35][36] |
Openstar Technologies | 2021 | Magnetic confinement | deuterium - deuterium (tritium suppressed) | |
Princeton Fusion Systems | 1992 | Magnetic confinement | deuterium - helium3 | [37][5] |
Proxima Fusion | 2023 | Magnetic confinement | deuterium - tritium | [7] |
Realta Fusion | 2022 | Magnetic confinement | deuterium - tritium | [38][39] |
Renaissance Fusion | 2021 | Magnetic confinement | deuterium - tritium | [7] |
Stellarex, Inc | 2022 | Magnetic confinement | deuterium - tritium | [27] |
SHINE Technologies | 2005 | Magneto-electrostatic confinement | deuterium - tritium | SHINE's focus is radioisotope production, not energy.[40][41] |
TAE Technologies | 1998 | Magnetic confinement | proton - boron | formerly Tri Alpha Energy [5] |
Thea Energy (formerly Princeton Stellarators) | 2022 | Magnetic confinement | deuterium - tritium | [27] |
Tokamak Energy | 2009 | Magnetic confinement | deuterium - tritium | [27] |
Type One Energy Group | 2019 | Magnetic confinement | deuterium - tritium | [39] |
Ultrafusion Nuclear Power | Merged with Norront Fusion AS in 2018.[30] | |||
Xcimer Energy Inc. | 2022 | Inertial confinement | deuterium - tritium | [17] |
Zap Energy | 2017 | Magnetic confinement | deuterium - tritium | [26] |
First fusion electricity to the grid
For decades researchers have famously said that fusion power is always 30, or even 50, years away.[42][43] 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.[44] 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.[45]
References
- ↑ The global fusion industry in 2023 - Fusion Companies Survey by the Fusion Industry Association (Report). Fusion Industry Association. 12 July 2023. p. 3. https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FIA%E2%80%932023-FINAL.pdf. Retrieved 13 July 2023. "The headline number for this report is that the fusion industry has now attracted over $6 billion in investment."
- ↑ Hiller, Jennifer; Niiler, Eric; Woodward, Aylin (12 December 2022). "U.S. to Announce Nuclear-Fusion Energy Breakthrough". https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-to-announce-nuclear-fusion-energy-breakthrough-11670881298?page=1.
- ↑ Stiffler, Lisa (2023-04-24). "'Desktop fusion' startup Avalanche Energy lands $40M and logs new tech achievement". https://www.geekwire.com/2023/desktop-fusion-startup-avalanche-energy-lands-40m-and-logs-new-tech-achievement/.
- ↑ Yamada, Ryotaro (23 July 2023). "Nuclear fusion race draws in Nobel-winning LED pioneer". https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Energy/Nuclear-fusion-race-draws-in-Nobel-winning-LED-pioneer.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Clynes, Tom (28 Jan 2020). "5 Big Ideas for Making Fusion Power a Reality - IEEE Spectrum" (in en). IEEE. https://spectrum.ieee.org/5-big-ideas-for-making-fusion-power-a-reality.
- ↑ "Mission – Crossfield Fusion". Crossfield Fusion. http://crossfieldfusion.com/mission. "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 the developed in hydrogen isotope separation as part of the fusion fuel cycle."
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 Bacon, Alexandra (27 July 2023). "Mapping Europe's nuclear fusion industry". Sifted. https://sifted.eu/articles/mapping-europes-nuclear-fusion-industry.
- ↑ Lisa Stiffler (5 April 2023). "Energy startup CTFusion folds as co-founders land at rival Zap". https://www.geekwire.com/2023/energy-startup-ctfusion-folds-as-co-founders-land-at-rival-zap/.
- ↑ Emilio, Maurizio Di Paolo (8 July 2021). "EFS Plans Aneutronic Fusion Reactor" (in en). EE Times Asia. https://www.eetasia.com/efs-plans-aneutronic-fusion-reactor/.
- ↑ "Low-Cost Fusion Project Steps Out of the Shadows and Looks for Money" (in en). 13 June 2014. https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/low-cost-fusion-project-steps-out-shadows-looks-money-n130661.
- ↑ Ventura, Tim (13 December 2019). "Robert Bussard on IEC Fusion Power & The Polywell Reactor" (in en). Medium. https://medium.com/discourse/robert-bussard-on-iec-fusion-power-the-polywell-reactor-be4a59dc7318.
- ↑ Li, Stephanie. "Chinese nuclear-tech firm Energy Singularity raises $58m funding" (in en). https://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/mihoyo-funding-342021.
- ↑ Barcelo, Yan (1 November 2022). "Nuclear Fusion May Be Nearer Than You Think" (in en-CA). Morningstar. https://www.morningstar.ca/ca/news/227636/nuclear-fusion-may-be-nearer-than-you-think.aspx.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Foster, Scott (30 May 2023). "Japan's fusion start-ups starting to roll in money". https://asiatimes.com/2023/05/japans-fusion-start-ups-starting-to-roll-in-money/.
- ↑ Andrews, Charlotte; Stern, Jeremy (14 July 2023). "Oxfordshire start-up hopes to transform nuclear fusion production". https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-66186870.
- ↑ "First Light Fusion demonstration plant site agreement, targets 2024 construction start". World Nuclear News. 25 January 2023. https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Construction-start-for-First-Light-Fusion-s-demons.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Clery, Daniel (15 February 2023). "Startups try to turn laser fusion success into clean power plants". Science. https://www.science.org/content/article/startups-try-turn-laser-fusion-success-clean-power-plants.
- ↑ "Austin-based company attempts to design fusion power plant in Texas". 19 June 2023. https://www.kxan.com/news/science/austin-based-company-attempts-to-design-fusion-power-plant-in-texas/.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Kramer, David (March 2023). "NIF success gives laser fusion energy a shot in the arm". Physics Today 76 (3): 25–27. doi:10.1063/PT.3.5195. https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/article/76/3/25/2868037/NIF-success-gives-laser-fusion-energy-a-shot-in. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ↑ "Fusion Power Corporation". 21 June 2023. https://www.canadacompanyregistry.com/companies/fusion-power-corporation/.
- ↑ Nikolewski, Rob (2 June 2023). "A step closer to making nuclear fusion a reality? San Diego's General Atomics partners with UK company". https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/story/2023-06-02/a-step-closer-to-making-nuclear-fusion-a-reality-san-diegos-general-atomics-partners-with-uk-company.
- ↑ Davidson, John (2 August 2023). "US backs Sydney fusion start-up's nuclear ambitions" (in en). https://www.afr.com/technology/us-backs-sydney-fusion-start-up-s-nuclear-ambitions-20230801-p5dsym.
- ↑ Margarone, Daniele; Bonvalet, Julien; Giuffrida, Lorenzo; Morace, Alessio; Kantarelou, Vasiliki; Tosca, Marco; Raffestin, Didier; Nicolai, Philippe et al. (January 2022). "In-Target Proton–Boron Nuclear Fusion Using a PW-Class Laser" (in en). Applied Sciences 12 (3): 1444. doi:10.3390/app12031444. ISSN 2076-3417.
- ↑ Jones, Jonathan Spencer (31 March 2022). "Australia's HB11 Energy demonstrates laser-powered nuclear fusion". https://www.powerengineeringint.com/nuclear/australias-hb11-energy-demonstrates-laser-powered-nuclear-fusion/.
- ↑ 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. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021APS..DPPTP1076M/abstract.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Harris, Mark (29 June 2023). "Welcome to Fusion City, USA - IEEE Spectrum" (in en). IEEE. https://spectrum.ieee.org/fusion.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 "FY2023 Awards Announced by DOE « INFUSE". Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 25 July 2023. https://infuse.ornl.gov/news/fy2023-awards-announced-by-doe/.
- ↑ Clery, Daniel (17 October 2014). "Updated: Are old secrets behind Lockheed's new fusion machine?". Science. https://www.science.org/content/article/updated-are-old-secrets-behind-lockheeds-new-fusion-machine.
- ↑ Whittington, Mark (28 February 2021). "Solving the climate and energy crises: Mine the Moon's helium-3?". https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/540856-solving-the-climate-and-energy-crises-mine-the-moons-helium-3/.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Developing new clean energy solutions from nuclear fusion (announcement)" (in sv). 2 April 2019. https://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/guventures/pressreleases/developing-new-clean-energy-solutions-from-nuclear-fusion-2855062.
- ↑ Lindsten, Per Olof (23 May 2023). "Fusion, edible bottles and electric aircraft - here are three hot Swedish projects". Dagens industri. https://www-di-se.translate.goog/nyheter/fusion-atbara-flaskor-och-elflyg-har-ar-tre-heta-svenska-projekt/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp.
- ↑ Cyrus, Callum (8 December 2022). "Looking to deliver fusion reactors from 2040 onwards, Novatron raises €3 million seed round from 2040 onwards, Novatron raises €3 million seed round". https://tech.eu/2022/12/08/luminescent/.
- ↑ Lisbona, Natalie (27 April 2023). "The Israeli plan to fit a fusion reactor into a container". https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65123116.
- ↑ "Conditions for High-Yield Muon Catalyzed Fusion" (in en). ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy). 7 April 2020. https://arpa-e.energy.gov/technologies/projects/conditions-high-yield-muon-catalyzed-fusion.
- ↑ "Fusion energy is focus of KTH investment (announcement)". 6 December 2022. https://www.kth.se/en/om/nyheter/centrala-nyheter/fusion-i-fokus-nar-kth-energisatsar-1.1212278.
- ↑ "Fusion energy is focus of KTH investment". https://www.kth.se/en/om/nyheter/centrala-nyheter/fusion-i-fokus-nar-kth-energisatsar-1.1212278.
- ↑ "Next-Generation PFRC" (in en). ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy). 15 November 2018. https://arpa-e.energy.gov/technologies/projects/next-generation-pfrc.
- ↑ Nykiel, Teddy (5 June 2023). "Madison fusion energy startup lands $12 million to decarbonize heavy industry". https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/inno/stories/news/2023/06/05/realta-fusion-energy-seed-funding.html.
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 Heidemann, Emilie (1 June 2023). "2 Madison-area companies get federal money to help curb climate change through fusion energy" (in en). https://madison.com/news/local/environment/2-madison-area-companies-get-federal-money-to-help-curb-climate-change-through-fusion-energy/article_1cf0862c-ffd8-11ed-aef2-77699459e256.html.
- ↑ Rude, Logan (3 August 2023). "Local fusion technology company takes step forward in developing small-scale nuclear reactions" (in en). https://www.channel3000.com/news/local-fusion-technology-company-takes-step-forward-in-developing-small-scale-nuclear-reactions/article_0790f954-321b-11ee-85be-a71f577730a3.html.
- ↑ Still, Tom (19 December 2022). "Fusion energy breakthrough is huge, but other uses will come first" (in en). https://madison.com/print_only/columnist/tom-still-fusion-energy-breakthrough-is-huge-but-other-uses-will-come-first/article_c40af9bf-98dd-5f7d-b1db-825726b7af02.html.
- ↑ Nathaniel Scharping (23 May 2016). "Why Nuclear Fusion Is Always 30 Years Away". https://www.discovermagazine.com/technology/why-nuclear-fusion-is-always-30-years-away.
- ↑ "Why LIFE: Ready to Make History". 24 July 2012. https://life.llnl.gov/why_life/ready_to_make_history.php. "The standard joke about fusion is that it is 50 years away and always will be."
- ↑ The global fusion industry in 2023 - Fusion Companies Survey by the Fusion Industry Association (Report). Fusion Industry Association. 12 July 2023. p. 3. https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FIA%E2%80%932023-FINAL.pdf. Retrieved 13 July 2023. "In this report, 25 companies think the first fusion plant will deliver electricity to the grid before 2035."
- ↑ "General Fusion: Investor". http://www.generalfusion.com/investor.html.
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