- Type One Energy, in partnership with TVA and ORNL, will establish its headquarters in East Tennessee as part of Project Infinity, a fusion energy initiative aimed at commercializing practical fusion energy technologies.
- The construction of Infinity One, a high-performance stellarator fusion reactor, is expected to begin in 2025, creating over 300 high-paying jobs and bolstering economic growth and energy technological leadership in the region.
- Project Infinity represents a significant milestone in the commercialization of fusion energy, with the potential to advance clean energy research and development in East Tennessee and beyond.
Type One Energy, currently headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, is set to establish its new headquarters in East Tennessee as part of a groundbreaking initiative known as Project Infinity. This project, born out of a tri-party memorandum of understanding signed in 2023 between the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Type One Energy, and the US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), aims to propel the successful development and commercialization of economic and practical fusion energy technologies.
The construction of Infinity One, a high-performance stellarator fusion reactor, is slated to commence in 2025, pending the completion of necessary environmental reviews, partnership agreements, required permits, and operating licenses. This facility will serve as a pivotal testing ground for Type One Energy, allowing them to verify crucial design features of their high field stellarator fusion pilot plant, particularly those related to operating efficiency, reliability, maintainability, and affordability.
In partnership with TVA and ORNL, Type One Energy will explore subsequent opportunities to further advance the commercial deployment of fusion energy in the East Tennessee region. This collaborative effort is expected to create over 300 high-paying jobs within the next five years, significantly contributing to economic growth and energy technological leadership in the area.
The Bull Run Fossil Plant, located on the north bank of Bull Run Creek, directly across the Clinch River from Oak Ridge, is the chosen site for Infinity One. This 865 MW coal-fired power plant, which entered operation in 1967, was retired on December 1, 2023. TVA is currently evaluating the future use of the Bull Run site, including potential opportunities to maintain grid stability based on its strategic geographic location in the TVA service territory.
TVA President and CEO Jeff Lyash expressed appreciation for the partnership between Type One Energy, ORNL, local power companies, and elected and economic development officials, emphasizing the importance of pursuing new ideas and innovative solutions to meet growing energy demand in real-world conditions.
ORNL Director Stephen Streiffer echoed this sentiment, highlighting the laboratory’s long-standing history of pioneering fusion science and technology and expressing excitement about the potential of Project Infinity to advance fusion energy.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee emphasized the state’s commitment to securing its place as a leader in energy independence, noting the creation of the Nuclear Energy Fund in partnership with the Tennessee General Assembly to recruit companies like Type One Energy.
Type One Energy’s Infinity One represents a significant milestone in the commercialization of fusion energy, offering an excellent platform for a potential long-term fusion research facility. The company applies proven advanced manufacturing methods, modern computational physics, and high-field superconducting magnets to develop its optimized stellarator fusion energy system.
In conclusion, Project Infinity and the deployment of Infinity One are poised to revolutionize the energy landscape in East Tennessee and beyond, marking a critical step forward in the commercialization of fusion energy and positioning the region as a national leader in clean energy innovation.
