Things You Gotta Know

Avalanche Energy Launches FusionWERX Test Facility to Accelerate Fusion Development
Avalanche Energy has unveiled FusionWERX, an open-access test facility designed to expedite the commercialization of fusion technologies. Dubbed the fusion industry’s equivalent of a wind tunnel, FusionWERX aims to provide a collaborative environment for testing and validating new fusion concepts, thereby accelerating innovation and development in the sector.​

Type One Energy Begins Testing Advanced Fusion Magnet for Stellarators
Type One Energy has commenced testing of its high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet, a critical component for its modular stellarator fusion systems. Developed over an 18-month program leveraging MIT’s VIPER technology, the HTS magnet is integral to the company’s Infinity Two power plant design. 

First Light Fusion and Frazer-Nash Team Up for Fusion Development
First Light Fusion has partnered with Frazer-Nash Consultancy to accelerate the development of fusion energy technologies. The collaboration focuses on leveraging Frazer-Nash’s engineering expertise to advance First Light’s inertial fusion approach.

Stellarator Showdown: Proxima Fusion vs. Type One Energy
IEEE Spectrum compares the approaches of Proxima Fusion and Type One Energy in developing stellarator-based fusion reactors. Both companies are advancing designs that utilize high-temperature superconducting magnets to confine plasma, with Type One Energy planning its Infinity One test platform by 2026 and aiming for grid integration by the mid-2030s.​

UK Government Provides Funding for Fusion Development
The UK government has announced a £20 million investment to initiate Starmaker One, a fusion energy investment fund intended to catalyze private sector funding and support the growth of fusion startups. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to position the UK at the forefront of global fusion energy development.

The History of Inertial Confinement Fusion: A Trip Down Memory Lane

Nova Laser Bay, Credit: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

BY MICHAEL HEUMANN

Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) has roots in hydrogen bomb physics—but it’s taken decades of precision engineering to reach Q>1. Dr. Mike Campbell shares insights from the earliest lasers to modern breakthroughs, including beam shaping, pulse synchronization, and the long path to commercial viability.

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Different Approaches to Inertial Confinement Fusion

Focused Energy LightHouse™ Laser Fusion System, Credit: Focused Energy

BY MICHAEL HEUMANN

ICF is evolving beyond NIF-era tech. We explore where energy losses occur, the state of laser vs. ion beam efficiency, and key players leading innovation.

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