For a field that has existed for more than 60 years, a lot has happened in fusion research in the last half-decade. In fusion’s case, a trio of technological advances converged in the early 2010s to unleash a wave of innovation. “I think you see this beautiful inflection point in this field where the science maturity and technical capability come together,” said Michl Binderbauer, CEO of TAE Technologies.
Some companies are exploring different fuels as well as different designs. California-based TAE Technologies, which has been in business since 1998, is building a nuclear reactor that’s designed to fuse hydrogen with boron-11 by colliding plasma “smoke rings” inside a long, cigar-shaped chamber. This setup would need to hit temperatures even higher than those in tokamaks. But if scaled-up versions work, they could generate electricity without the neutron fusillade.
Our current domestic electrical grids are woefully inept to integrate necessary renewable energy sources. The answer to solving this problem lies within a new approach to energy use: one that focuses on optimizing the way customers and their technologies interact with the grid.
Long before he became TAE’s Chief Science Officer and an award-winning pioneer in the field of fusion energy, Dr. Toshiki Tajima was a young scientist studying fusion in Tokyo, where his daily walks took him past Shinobazu Pond.
There, he observed a simple phenomenon: A mother duck paddling through the water and a string of ducklings gliding along behind in her wake. They traveled together at the same speed, despite their difference in size and strength.
As the scientific community—and arguably, the world—experiences renewed interest in the development of fusion energy, it’s worth highlighting the diversity of approaches being pursued. Fusion pioneers are developing a variety of machines that employ a variety of fuels each with their own set of attractive features and technical challenges, but all with the same goal – to develop the technology that enables commercial electricity production from fusion energy. The innovations we’re seeing now, largely in the private sector, represent a wealth of scientific and engineering prowess built on decades of research and experimentation.
Nuclear fusion is the primordial source of the Sun’s energy. For decades, scientists have been trying to recreate it here on Earth. Now, they’re closer than ever to achieving it, and unlocking a future of clean power for all.
In June 2022, amid an oil supply shortage resulting in part from the war in Ukraine, the United States marked a devastating milestone: The average price of a gallon of gasoline topped $5 for the first time in American history.
TAE Technologies is the world’s largest private fusion energy company. But in Tom Hanks’ new sci-fi drama “Finch,” TAE is transformed into a hub of robotics innovation – all thanks to a bit of movie magic.
Prior to Coronavirus, human impact on the environment was largely studied in models and projections, making the cause and effect seem abstract to some. Now, we have all been partaking in an unprecedented living laboratory experiment, where the drastic reduction of planes, cars, and factory activity has led to results that are starkly visible in our everyday lives.