Introduction to Proxima Fusion

Proxima Fusion, a German nuclear fusion startup founded just two years ago, has made a significant breakthrough by publishing plans for a functional fusion power plant in a peer-reviewed journal. This achievement is being hailed as a major step forward in the quest for limitless energy generation.

The Benefits of Nuclear Fusion

Unlike today’s nuclear fission reactors, which produce radioactive waste, nuclear fusion releases vast amounts of energy with minimal radiation and zero carbon emissions, offering a cleaner and more sustainable alternative.

Understanding Fusion Reactors

There are two primary types of fusion reactors: tokamaks and stellarators. These reactors utilize electromagnets to contain fusion plasma. Tokamaks rely on external magnets and an induced plasma current, but they are known for their instability. Stellarators, on the other hand, use only external magnets, which theoretically enables better stability and continuous operation.

Proxima Fusion’s Breakthrough

According to Dr. Francesco Sciortino, co-founder and CEO of Proxima Fusion, the company’s ‘Stellaris’ design is the first peer-reviewed fusion power plant concept that demonstrates reliable and continuous operation without the instabilities and disruptions seen in tokamaks and other approaches.

Publication and Open-Source Science

The findings have been published in ‘Fusion Engineering and Design.’ By choosing to share its results publicly, Proxima Fusion aims to support open-source science, allowing the global community to access and build upon its work.

Accelerated Progress and Claims

“Our American friends can see it. Our Chinese friends can see it. Our claim is that we can execute on this faster than anyone else, and we do that by creating a framework for integrated physics, engineering, and economics. So we’re not a science project anymore,” Sciortino explained in a conversation with TechCrunch.

Sciortino also highlighted the company’s accelerated progress, stating, “We started out as a group of founders saying it’s going to take us two years to get to the Stellaris design… We actually finished after one year. So we’ve accelerated by a year.”

Funding and Future Plans

Proxima Fusion, founded two years ago, has secured $35 million in funding from the European Union and the German government, along with an additional $30 million in venture capital. The company is aiming to build a fully operational fusion reactor by 2031.

Competition in the Field

The company faces competition from entities like Commonwealth Fusion Systems, which is backed by Bill Gates’s venture fund Breakthrough Energy Ventures.

Investor Perspectives

Ian Hogarth, a Partner at Plural and one of Proxima Fusion’s earliest investors, commented, “When Proxima started its journey, the founders said, ‘This is possible, we’ll prove it to you.’ And they did. Stellaris positions QI-HTS stellarators as the leading technology in the global race to commercial fusion.”