- Fusion Pioneers General Fusion Unveil LM26″: General Fusion, a trailblazer in fusion energy, introduces Lawson Machine 26 (LM26), a marvel poised to validate their breakthrough fusion approach, showcasing cost-effectiveness and rapid progress.
- “Innovative Fusion Journey Accelerates”: LM26’s fusion journey blends cutting-edge plasma technology and magnetized compression, driven by General Fusion’s operational plasma injector (PI3) – a cornerstone of fusion advancement, propelling plasma temperatures to staggering heights and sustaining energy for the fusion quest.
- “Fusion on the Horizon: LM26 and Beyond”: With a synchronized pas de deux between LM26 and the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), General Fusion charts a path towards commercial fusion energy, paving the way for a Fusion Demonstration Plant (FDP) and embracing a tantalizing vision of a cleaner, electrifying future.
General Fusion, at the vanguard of the fusion energy frontier, is poised to embark on a momentous leap forward with the imminent creation of Lawson Machine 26 (LM26). This groundbreaking apparatus is poised to illuminate the promise of General Fusion’s distinctive fusion approach, showcasing rapid progress and cost-effectiveness. The stage for this technological spectacle is set at the company’s headquarters nestled in Richmond, British Columbia.
The primary thrust of LM26 is to affirm General Fusion’s prowess in symmetrically compressing magnetized plasmas with unwavering consistency, ultimately ushering in fusion conditions on a significant scale. Ingeniously marrying the operational plasma injector (PI3) with a novel lithium liner compression system, LM26 represents the culmination of a remarkable lineage spanning 24 prototypes and over 200,000 plasma experiments. Notably, the PI3 stands as a global pinnacle in operational plasma injectors, boasting impressive feats such as plasma temperatures soaring to an astounding five million degrees Celsius. Equally striking, it has demonstrated a remarkable self-sustaining energy confinement time of 10 milliseconds – two pivotal milestones propelling LM26 towards its audacious ambitions. Importantly, LM26’s plasmas will emulate approximately half the scale of those found in a commercial fusion machine.
The LM26 odyssey, unfolding over the next two to three years, is set to be a collaborative pas de deux with the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). The data gleaned from LM26’s experimental ballet will be meticulously scrutinized and then woven into the very fabric of General Fusion’s blueprints for a commercial-scale demonstration set to grace the shores of the United Kingdom.
Greg Twinney, the visionary helmsman of General Fusion, expounded, “This machine represents a pivotal new pillar to expedite and de-risk General Fusion’s Demonstration Program, harnessing the company’s recent technological leaps to usher in grid-worthy electricity via commercial fusion energy by the early to mid-2030s.” The company’s recalibrated three-year Fusion Demonstration Program charts a strategic trajectory towards the commercialization of their technology within the coming decade.
Central to General Fusion’s distinctive modus operandi is the injection of hydrogen plasma into a liquid metal sphere, where an orchestrated symphony of compression and heating unfolds, culminating in the exquisite dance of fusion. This mesmerizing choreography cascades heat from the fusion of hydrogen atoms into the waiting arms of liquid metal, deftly conjuring fusion conditions in elegantly brief pulses. This ingenuity effectively sidesteps the tribulations that often beset other methods necessitating extravagant expenditures on superconducting magnets or high-intensity lasers.
Cast into the future, General Fusion’s gaze rests firmly on the horizon of their Fusion Demonstration Plant (FDP), an architectural marvel poised to grace the distinguished precincts of the UKAEA’s Culham Campus, situated in the hallowed halls near Oxford, England. The FDP stands as a litmus test for the viability of General Fusion’s Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) technology, a prodigious 70% scale model of the forthcoming commercial pilot plant. While the FDP may refrain from power choreography, it will orchestrate one plasma pulse per diem, elegantly waltzing with deuterium fuel. In sharp contrast, the upcoming commercial pilot plant, fueled by deuterium-tritium incandescence, envisions an operatic cadence of up to one plasma pulse per second. The FDP, shrouded in anticipation, is set to raise its curtain by 2026, seamlessly transitioning into full-throttle operations in the nascent glow of early 2027.
In the grand tapestry of funding, General Fusion has masterfully orchestrated a crescendo, culminating in the triumphant first act of its Series F funding round, culminating in a commendable influx of USD 25 million. This virtuoso performance drew thunderous applause from stalwart patrons, including BDC Capital and GIC. Adding to this financial overture, a newfound serenade of grant funding from the benevolent hands of the Government of British Columbia graced the stage, harmonizing with the ongoing symphony of support from the Canadian government’s Strategic Innovation Fund.
As the fusion saga unfurls, General Fusion assumes center stage, orchestrating a symphony of innovation and scientific marvels that echo with the promise of an electrifying future.
