Fusion energy startups advance reactor technology and manufacturing

Several European startups are advancing the commercialization of nuclear fusion technology through specialized hardware and software solutions.

Munich-based Proxima Fusion, a spin-off from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Lower Saxony to build a factory for high-temperature superconductor tapes. These tapes are essential for creating powerful electromagnets used in fusion reactors. The company plans to invest 140 million euros in the first two phases of the project by the end of 2029, with Lower Saxony contributing up to 21 million euros. Proxima Fusion's long-term goals include developing a research reactor named ‘Alpha’ in Garching and a potential commercial power plant named ‘Stellaris’.

In Lausanne, the startup Fusionality is focusing on the control systems required to manage fusion reactors. The company aims to bridge the gap between component manufacturing and complete control systems by developing a reusable software and control toolchain. Their technology utilizes AI and simulation interfaces to manage the complex, rapidly changing conditions of plasma, such as temperature and fuel stability, making reactor designs more adaptable and easier to implement.