Novatron Fusion Group, a Swedish fusion energy innovator, has announced the launch of its Tau-E Breakthrough (TauEB) project, funded by €3 million from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder Programme.
The initiative, undertaken in collaboration with KTH Royal Institute of Technology, KIPT (Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology), UKAEA, and EIT InnoEnergy, aims to revolutionise plasma confinement—a critical barrier to achieving commercially viable fusion energy.
Jan Jäderberg, CTO of Novatron Fusion Group, remarked: “Our collaboration with global leaders strengthens the credibility and potential impact of the TauEB project. We are now poised to demonstrate a truly scalable and cost-effective fusion reactor technology.”
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Stockholm, Novatron Fusion Group is developing the world’s only stable mirror-machine fusion concept. Its technology aims to streamline the fusion process, reducing both capital and operational costs for future reactors. It is backed by financial supporters including Climentum Capital, EIT InnoEnergy, and Santander InnoEnergy Climate Fund.
The success of fusion power plants hinges on the quality of energy confinement, which must meet two essential criteria: stability and the ability to sustain plasma over time with minimal leakage. The TauEB project addresses this challenge by focusing on enhancing plasma confinement time (τE) by over hundred times — a reported breakthrough in achieving commercially viable fusion energy.
The project introduces a novel integration of three physical confinement techniques:
- Magnetic Confinement: Through the Novatron’s unique magnetic mirror design.
- Ambipolar Plugging: An electrostatic plugging at the magnetic mirrors, achieved by
creating an electric potential within the plasma. - Ponderomotive Confinement: Confinement of the plasma by an external electric RF-
field, using the ponderomotive force.
The combination of the three techniques is expected to not only drastically improve confinement, but also to make fusion power economically attractive by generating energy at a competitive Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE).
The project’s interdisciplinary team brings together expertise in magnetic confinement, plasma stability, radio-frequency plasma heating, and advanced diagnostics. Partners such as EIT InnoEnergy are also contributing commercialisation strategies to ensure a pathway to market for this technology.
Per Brunsell, professor of Fusion Plasma Physics at KTH, highlighted the significance of the initiative: “The Pathfinder Program is aimed at fostering radical innovations with high potential for real-world impact. With Novatron Fusion Group’s groundbreaking approach to fusion, we’re bringing together an interdisciplinary team of world-class experts in fusion research and development. This unique collaboration will help drive the ongoing development of the novel fusion technology, positioning us to achieve major milestones in the quest for commercially viable fusion energy.”
According to Novatron, fusion energy is increasingly recognised as a cornerstone of the global energy transition, offering the promise of virtually limitless, clean, and sustainable power.
Jan Jäderberg concluded: “There is a growing momentum in the field of fusion energy. As we continue to advance our technological roadmap, the TauEB project is a major step toward achieving a commercially scalable fusion reactor, paving the way for a cleaner, sustainable future.”
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2024/12/stockholm-based-novatron-fusion-group-secures-e3-million-for-breakthrough-in-fusion-energy-confinement-technology/
