National Ignition Facility

EV Charging Pioneer Scott Mercer Takes on Fusion as CEO of Focused Energy

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 28, 2024

The inertial fusion energy company Focused Energy welcomes Scott Mercer as CEO, furthering its position as a leader in the burgeoning global fusion industry.

Key Points: 
  • The inertial fusion energy company Focused Energy welcomes Scott Mercer as CEO, furthering its position as a leader in the burgeoning global fusion industry.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240227836856/en/
    Scott Mercer, CEO of Focused Energy (Photo: Scott Mercer)
    "I’m thrilled and humbled to join a team that is demonstrably on the cutting edge of fusion science and achievement," Mercer stated.
  • Thomas Forner, Founder and President of Focused Energy, says, “Adding Scott Mercer to our team marks a pivotal moment for Focused Energy.
  • At Focused Energy, a blend of proven fusion science and experimental supply chain experience is building on groundbreaking achievements of the past two decades in laser-based nuclear fusion.

American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery Hosts its 43rd Annual Conference

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 18, 2023

WAUSAU, Wis., Dec. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) is regarded as the top international society for the exchange of information on medical laser and energy-based technologies. 2024 marks the 43rd year of the Annual Conference of the ASLMS.

Key Points: 
  • WAUSAU, Wis., Dec. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) is regarded as the top international society for the exchange of information on medical laser and energy-based technologies.
  • 2024 marks the 43rd year of the Annual Conference of the ASLMS.
  • ASLMS is a unique society where people from many specialties in clinical medicine come together with scientists and engineers to explore energy-based technologies to improve patient care.
  • The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Inc. (ASLMS) is the largest multi-disciplinary professional organization dedicated to the development and application of lasers and related technology for health care applications.

Dr. Pravesh Patel becomes Chief Technology Officer of Focused Energy

Retrieved on: 
Friday, September 15, 2023

Focused Energy, a laser-based fusion startup, is proud to announce Dr. Pravesh Patel as its new CTO.

Key Points: 
  • Focused Energy, a laser-based fusion startup, is proud to announce Dr. Pravesh Patel as its new CTO.
  • In his new role, Dr. Patel will lead the company’s science and technology strategic planning and execution, developing the path to the commercialization of fusion energy.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230915591321/en/
    Dr. Pravesh Patel becomes Chief Technology Officer of Focused Energy (Photo: Business Wire)
    Patel joined the company as Scientific Director in early 2022.
  • “As CTO, Dr. Patel will play a critical role in developing our technology path, bringing us closer to functional commercial fusion plants,” said Thomas Forner, co-founder and CEO of Focused Energy.

HB11 Energy receives grant from US Department of Energy to develop clean, safe and unlimited fusion energy

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, August 15, 2023

SYDNEY, Aug. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) has awarded a grant to HB11 Energy as part of its 'Innovation Network for Fusion Energy' ( INFUSE ) program with the objective, "to accelerate basic research to develop cost-effective, innovative fusion energy technologies in the private sector."

Key Points: 
  • SYDNEY, Aug. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) has awarded a grant to HB11 Energy as part of its 'Innovation Network for Fusion Energy' ( INFUSE ) program with the objective, "to accelerate basic research to develop cost-effective, innovative fusion energy technologies in the private sector."
  • Led by HB11 Energy's Prof Thomas Mehlhorn and Prof. Adam Sefkow from LLE, the research will be focused on innovative hydrogen-boron fuel targets in its program to develop clean and safe fusion energy.
  • Being aneutronic, the technology pathway to a functioning HB11 fusion energy reactor is significantly less complicated and therefore, shorter and much less expensive than any other proposed method of fusion energy.
  • HB11 Energy's technologies could create the world's safest, most economic, lowest-carbon source of abundant clean energy."

Climate Resiliency Challenge Unveils New Solutions to Address Climate-related Disasters

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, August 1, 2023

The Challenge, which launched May 23 and accepted submissions through July 10, invited innovators around the globe to share their world-changing climate solutions for the chance to win a share of $1M in prize money.

Key Points: 
  • The Challenge, which launched May 23 and accepted submissions through July 10, invited innovators around the globe to share their world-changing climate solutions for the chance to win a share of $1M in prize money.
  • The Challenge sought solutions to help frontline communities prevent, prepare for and recover from climate-related disasters, such as wildfires, floods, and extreme weather.
  • Through the open call for submissions, inventors, entrepreneurs, and scholars were able to propose bold, innovative solutions to build climate resiliency.
  • “We believe innovation is at the heart of resiliency,” said Liz Henderson, leader of Climate Risk Advisory at Aon.

Japanese Laser Fusion Company, EX-Fusion, Raises $1.8 billion yen as Seed Round with Plans to Advance Laser Fusion Research and Development

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 6, 2023

OSAKA, Japan, July 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EX-Fusion announced today the close of an over-subscribed $1.8 billion yen seed-round investment designed to accelerate the commercial development of laser fusion technology.

Key Points: 
  • OSAKA, Japan, July 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EX-Fusion announced today the close of an over-subscribed $1.8 billion yen seed-round investment designed to accelerate the commercial development of laser fusion technology.
  • EX-Fusion has raised 130 million yen to date, and this latest financing will bring the total amount raised to 1.93 billion yen.
  • Currently, there is growing interest in the potential of laser fusion for achieving a decarbonized society, and international competition is intensifying.
  • Since the previous round of funding, we have focused on the development of components for laser control.

Xcimer Energy Announces $9 Million US Department of Energy Award to Develop Laser-Driven Inertial Fusion Energy

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 31, 2023

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today that Xcimer Energy was selected for a $9 million award from the Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program, a groundbreaking and innovative public-private partnership initiative.

Key Points: 
  • The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today that Xcimer Energy was selected for a $9 million award from the Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program, a groundbreaking and innovative public-private partnership initiative.
  • Xcimer’s award further establishes Xcimer as a leading company in the race to achieve the first commercial fusion power plant in the United States.
  • The Xcimer team will leverage this accomplishment and the significant progress made by the laser fusion community to advance IFE.
  • “Prelude decided to make our first fusion investment in Xcimer because we believe Xcimer has the technology, team and plan to make inertial fusion energy a commercial reality on a relevant timescale.

Science for America Reports Two Promising Approaches To Fusion Power

Retrieved on: 
Friday, May 12, 2023

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Science for America (SfA), a non-profit "solutions incubator," announced today the release of a white paper: "New Opportunities for Fusion Power." Building on recent scientific advances, the SfA white paper describes two different promising approaches for fusion power that have the potential to speed progress, decrease cost, and simplify engineering challenges and might both be tested efficiently on a single, shared "demonstration system." The white paper, developed by scientists and technologists under SfA's Climate & Energy pillar, shares the ideas freely with the aim of spurring public discussion, scientific research, and commercialization efforts to accelerate fusion as a clean, affordable, scalable power source.

Key Points: 
  • The challenge has been overcoming major scientific and engineering challenges to make practical, inexpensive fusion energy systems.
  • In one breakthrough in 2021, Commonwealth Fusion Systems showed that high-temperature superconducting tape can create the strong magnetic fields needed for compact steady-state magnetic confinement fusion.
  • "After studying a wide range of ways in which fusion might be achieved, the group shined a spotlight on two very interesting approaches."
  • The white paper, "New Opportunities for Fusion Power," has been posted to https://www.scienceforamerica.org/ to share with the scientific community.

Congressional Fusion Caucus Chair Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr. Visits General Atomics

Retrieved on: 
Monday, May 8, 2023

San Diego, CA, May 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Last week, Representative Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA), Chair of the Congressional Fusion Caucus, visited General Atomics (GA) to tour the DIII-D National Fusion Facility and GA’s inertial fusion fabrication facilities.

Key Points: 
  • San Diego, CA, May 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Last week, Representative Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA), Chair of the Congressional Fusion Caucus, visited General Atomics (GA) to tour the DIII-D National Fusion Facility and GA’s inertial fusion fabrication facilities.
  • Staff members from the offices of Representatives Beyer, Darrell Issa (R-CA), and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) also joined the visit.
  • DIII-D’s mission is to pioneer the science and innovative technologies that will enable the development of fusion as a clean energy source.
  • The visit continued with discussions focused on GA’s Fusion Pilot Plant (FPP) concept and the need to develop a robust fusion workforce.

Photonis Supplies Key Instrumentation for Detecting Successful Laser Fusion Ignition

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Photonis, a leading electro-optic manufacturer, has supplied key instrumentation that has aided in the achievement of laser fusion ignition.

Key Points: 
  • Photonis, a leading electro-optic manufacturer, has supplied key instrumentation that has aided in the achievement of laser fusion ignition.
  • STURBRIDGE, MA, May 2, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - Photonis, a leading electro-optic manufacturer, has supplied key instrumentation that has aided in the achievement of laser fusion ignition.
  • Successful detection of the reaction was made possible with key instrumentation supplied by Photonis.
  • Learn More about LLNL's Fusion Ignition Success Here: National Ignition Facility achieves fusion ignition | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (llnl.gov)