Who are the key players?

There is a huge challenge in navigating the many private companies and academic institutions out there – each of which is investigating different elements within the fusion landscape, and often each of which is passionate about their specific approach (and often detracting of others). 

This page seeks to collate fusion companies and institutions into categorizations and descriptions to help you navigate the fusion world.

Private Companies

An increasing number of fusion startups are up and running in the race to develop fusion power. These companies co-exist alongside the far more established (and in general more Tokamak focused) academic realm.

  • HB11 Energy Ltd plans to use lasers to accelerate hydrogen and boron ions to achieve the famous proton Boron 11 fusion reaction. By using lasers in this way, it aims to achieve non-thermal ignition of the plasma (thereby avoiding the issues of high temperature thermal containment). The plasma will be confined in a magnetic field using lasers and a capacitive coil. Studies suggest that with this fuel and ignition method, a chain reaction can be started, meaning that the reaction gains can be very high (modelling suggests sufficient for Net Energy Gain). By also using protons (hydrogen) and boron, there are no neutrons generated by the reaction – only charged alpha particles, which are proposed to be collected directly as DC current. [Laser, Non-Thermal, Australia, Private]
  • General Fusion (Private company, US)
  • Helion Energy (Private company, US)
  • Tokamak Energy Ltd. plans to use spherical tokamak’s, together with super conducting coils to achieve a thermal plasma sufficient for break even fusion. Details of their overall approach are here. Intended fuel is Deuterium-Tritium. Main challenges include central column design, divertor loading, and shielding/neutron flux degradation of materials. (Private company, UK)
  • Tri Alpha Energy (Private company, US)
  • Convergent Scientific Inc. (Private company, US) – now wound up. Polywell geometry [Electrostatic confinement, Non-Thermal]

Academic Institutions

  • NIF
  • ITER
  • JET

Hobbyists (Fusor / Polywell)

The list above is incomplete today, but will be expanded over time. Know of a fusion company? Please let me know and I will include it.