General Fusion, a Canadian fusion energy company, has made history by successfully generating plasma in a reactor powered by steam, marking a major breakthrough in nuclear fusion research.
This achievement, realized in its latest prototype, the Lawson Machine 26 (LM26), moves the company closer to its goal of commercializing fusion energy. Unlike mainstream fusion technologies such as tokamaks and stellarators, General Fusion has spent over two decades developing magnetized target fusion (MTF), a method that avoids the need for expensive superconducting magnets or high-powered lasers.
The approach taken by General Fusion differs significantly from other fusion experiments. In 2022, the National Ignition Facility (NIF) achieved a historic milestone by demonstrating energy gain from nuclear fusion, using high-powered lasers to compress fusion fuel. In contrast, MTF relies on steam-driven pistons to compress plasma. The process begins by magnetizing the fuel—a mix of deuterium and tritium—using a small electrical charge. Then, instead of using lasers, pistons push a liquid lithium wall inward, compressing the plasma and increasing its temperature until a fusion reaction occurs. The energy released from this reaction heats the liquid lithium, which can then be used to produce steam and generate electricity.
General Fusion’s persistence has set it apart in an industry where many companies have struggled to make progress. Since its founding in 2002, the company has built 24 plasma injectors, conducted over 200,000 plasma experiments, and successfully generated fusion neutrons through plasma compression. Despite numerous challenges, the company managed to design, assemble, and operate the LM26 reactor in just 16 months, a testament to its rapid technological advancement.
The company envisions a future where a single MTF power plant could provide electricity for 150,000 homes while minimizing energy transmission losses and repurposing industrial steam infrastructure. However, challenges remain, particularly in perfecting the liquid lithium wall, which is essential for stabilizing the reaction and extracting energy efficiently.
With the potential to revolutionize clean energy, General Fusion is aiming to bring fusion power to the grid within the next decade. If the company can overcome the remaining engineering hurdles, its steam-powered breakthrough could mark the beginning of a new era in commercial nuclear fusion.