First Light Fusion sign inertial fusion agreement

Oxfordshire fusion startup First Light Fusion and global engineering firm Tractebel have signed a framework agreement for the development of First Light’s gain demonstrator.

This demonstrator, named Machine 4 (M4), will be developed in Oxford. Tractebel will use its international expertise in fusion to help with the development process.

Once complete M4 will contain the largest pulsed power driver in the world (equivalent in diameter to the Royal Albert Hall).

M4 will be used to demonstrate Net Energy Gain,  the process of getting more energy out of fusion than is required to create it.

Denis Dumont, Chief Global Nuclear Officer, Tractebel, said: "With this contract, Tractebel re-affirms its commitment to support the UK nuclear industry, fission and fusion, and help meet the UK’s ambition to be net zero by 2050.

''Thanks to our presence in Bristol with the Hinkley Point C project, Tractebel contributes even further to the development of the nuclear sector in the country. Our UK team has been growing to assist UK nuclear stakeholders jointly with our experts based in France and Belgium.

''Thanks to our internationally recognized nuclear experience, we are able to provide innovative solutions to the most challenging projects. We look forward to developing our relationship with First Light Fusion".

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First Light was founded in 2011. The company works on a new brand of fusion called projectile fusion, a method that involves launching a projectile into a target containing the fusion fuel.

According to First Light this method is cheaper, simpler, and more energy efficient than other Fusion methods. It is also the method that will be used in M4.

Dr Nick Hawker, Founder & CEO of First Light Fusion, said: “The design and development of Machine 4 at the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s site in Culham is well underway as we aim for completion well before the end of this decade. We are delighted to be working with Tractebel through this critical phase, leveraging their unrivaled expertise in major fusion infrastructure projects, including ITER in France”.

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