Tuesday, 29 April 2025
27.5 C
Singapore
28.3 C
Thailand
19.9 C
Indonesia
28.3 C
Philippines

German startup earns recognition for breakthrough fusion reactor design

German startup Proxima Fusion makes a breakthrough in nuclear fusion with its Stellaris reactor, aiming for a commercial plant by 2031.

A German startup, Proxima Fusion, has taken a significant step forward in the quest for limitless clean energy. The company, founded just two years ago, has published its plans for a fully functional fusion power plant in a peer-reviewed journal. This development is being seen as a significant leap in nuclear fusion technology, which has the potential to revolutionise energy production worldwide.

Nuclear fusion offers a cleaner alternative than current nuclear fission reactors, which generate radioactive waste. It produces vast amounts of energy without carbon emissions and only minimal radiation. The challenge, however, has always been building a stable and reliable fusion reactor.

Proxima’s breakthrough in fusion reactor design

There are two main types of fusion reactors: tokamaks and stellarators. Tokamaks use electromagnets and an induced plasma current to contain fusion plasma, but they are prone to instability. Stellarators rely solely on external magnets, making them more stable and capable of continuous operation.

Proxima Fusion claims to have solved many of the issues that have plagued previous designs. According to Dr. Francesco Sciortino, co-founder and CEO of Proxima Fusion, the company’s ‘Stellaris’ design is the first peer-reviewed concept that proves it can operate stably and continuously without the disruptions seen in tokamaks and other approaches.

The research was published in Fusion Engineering and Design, and Proxima made its findings available to the public to support open-source science. “Our American friends can see it. Our Chinese friends can see it. We claim that we can execute on this faster than anyone else,” according to Sciortino in an interview. “We create a framework that integrates physics, engineering, and economics. So we’re not just a science project anymore.”

Sciortino also highlighted the speed at which the company has progressed. “We originally estimated it would take two years to complete the Stellaris design, but we finished it in one. We’ve effectively accelerated our timeline by a year,” he added.

Proxima’s path to a commercial fusion reactor

Proxima Fusion has secured US$35 million in funding from the European Union and the German government and US$30 million from venture capital investors. With these resources, the company aims to build a fully operational fusion reactor by 2031.

Proxima is competing against other firms in the fusion energy sector, including Commonwealth Fusion Systems, which Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures back. Despite the competition, early investors in Proxima believe the company is in a strong position. Ian Hogarth, a partner at Plural and one of Proxima’s first investors, praised the startup’s achievements, saying, “When Proxima started, 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.”

With its innovative approach and rapid progress, Proxima Fusion is emerging as a key player in the push towards a future powered by clean and limitless energy.

Hot this week

Bluesky outage raises questions about decentralisation in practice

Bluesky, a decentralised social platform, went offline briefly, raising fresh questions about how decentralisation works.

GITEX to launch in Vietnam, unlocking growth in Southeast Asia’s digital economy

GITEX announces debut in Vietnam for October 2026, spotlighting its growing tech economy and boosting Southeast Asia’s digital innovation.

SquareX secures US$20 million to transform browser security

SquareX raises US$20 million to strengthen browser security, offering enterprises an easy way to protect users without disrupting their workflows.

Lian Li’s new Lancool 207 Digital case brings a 6-inch LCD screen to your PC

Lian Li's Lancool 207 Digital PC case brings a bright 6-inch LCD screen to your setup, offering style, function, and full customisation.

GitLab announces general availability of GitLab Duo with Amazon Q

GitLab announces the general availability of GitLab Duo with Amazon Q, combining DevSecOps and AI to accelerate secure software development.

Nintendo Pop-Up Store and Mario Kart Fun Return to Jewel Changi Airport

Experience the magic of Nintendo at Jewel Changi Airport with the return of the Pop-Up Store and the exciting Mario Kart Jewel Circuit Challenge!

Lian Li’s new Lancool 207 Digital case brings a 6-inch LCD screen to your PC

Lian Li's Lancool 207 Digital PC case brings a bright 6-inch LCD screen to your setup, offering style, function, and full customisation.

Google to end support for early Nest thermostats on October 25

Google will stop supporting first—and second-generation Nest thermostats on October 25 and end new Nest launches in Europe.

DeepMind team in London seeks to unionise over AI concerns

DeepMind employees in London seek to unionise with the Communication Workers Union over concerns about Google’s AI policies and military contracts.

Related Articles

Popular Categories