Proxima Fusion partners with Japanese firms for superconductor production

Munich-based startup Proxima Fusion has signed two letters of intent with Japanese companies Fujikura and Kyoto Fusioneering to secure supply chains for its fusion reactor projects. The collaboration aims to establish manufacturing for high-temperature superconductor (HTS) tape in Lower Saxony, Germany.

Proxima Fusion plans to invest approximately 140 million euros by the end of 2029 to build the HTS tape factory. The state of Lower Saxony has pledged up to 21 million euros in support, contingent upon the company securing an experienced industrial partner. Fujikura, which has a long history in material production, is expected to provide the necessary technical expertise.

The HTS tape is critical for the stellarator reactor design used by Proxima Fusion, as it enables the powerful magnetic fields required to contain extremely hot plasma. To support its planned Alpha demonstrator power plant in the early 2030s, the company requires 20,000 kilometers of HTS tape, with an additional 40,000 kilometers needed for the future Stellaris fusion power plant. Establishing local production in Germany is intended to mitigate current supply chain vulnerabilities, as much of the material is presently produced outside of Europe.