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Our Approach

Game-changing Fusion Technology

Transforming the world’s energy supply with commercial fusion energy.

A Practical Path to Delivering Fusion Power.

In the past 20 years, we have achieved significant developmental and technical milestones on our mission to deliver practical fusion energy.

We’ve demonstrated success in scaling technologies, creating the pathway to integrate, deploy and commercialize our Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) technology.

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Inside reactor

2002

In 2002, Canadian physicist Dr. Michel Laberge first started General Fusion on Bowen Island in British Columbia. He set out to develop a commercially-viable approach to fusion energy using Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) technology.

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2005

Dr. Laberge built a small-scale prototype demonstrating shockwave compression of a plasma to generate neutrons. It proved that the prototype successfully created a fusion reaction using our unique and practical MTF approach.

Parts of the prototype are currently on display at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa.

2010

Our first plasma injector was designed, built and commissioned over the course of 12 months.

We were the first in the world to design, build and commission a compact toroid plasma injector at power plant scale.

 

2012

Our liquid metal compression tests validated the engineering of our system and the synchronization of pistons. The tests confirmed a key benefit of our MTF approach – the liquid metal liner – to overcoming one of the barriers to commercial fusion.

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A graph showing the aggregate of a series of uncompressed shots providing critical insight into ion dynamics. The neutron rate is decaying exponentially from the post-formation peak. During compression, the neutron rate increases significantly compared to the uncompressed case.

2013 – 2018

We achieved sufficient plasma performance to heat when compressed.

Pictured is a graph showing the aggregate of a series of uncompressed shots providing critical insight into ion dynamics. The neutron rate is decaying exponentially from the post-formation peak.

During compression, the neutron rate increases significantly compared to the uncompressed case.

2013 – 2018

Our plasma compression field tests substantiated our plasma stability models and showed increased neutron yield under compression, demonstrating the viability of a stable fusion process using our MTF approach.

 

 

2019

We brought together plasma and liquid lithium, integrating two key components of our technology, and demonstrated our plasma lifetime is maintained within the liquid metal wall cavity. The wall is designed to absorb neutrons and protect the machine from fusion damage, breed fuel and provide efficient heat transfer.

2021

Our compression test bed successfully compressed a liquid cavity with symmetry and controlled shape sufficient to achieve fusion conditions. This milestone marked another significant step toward our goal of commercializing fusion energy using our MTF technology.

 

Compression system (CWC)

2022

Our plasma and compression prototypes exceeded core technology performance targets, supporting our goal of achieving fusion conditions of over 100 million degrees Celsius in our integrated MTF demonstration.

Our plasma injector exceeded requirements with a 10-millisecond self-sustaining energy confinement time. We are creating the plasmas we need, achieving the target confinement time without requiring active magnetic stabilization, auxiliary heating, or a conventional divertor.

Our compression system prototype validated five millisecond compression time for large scale MTF demonstration. This is sufficient for the thermal confinement times already achieved within our existing plasma prototypes.

 

 

2023 – 2026

Today we are designing and building LM26, an integrated demonstration of our MTF technology, to achieve fusion conditions of over 100 million degrees Celsius by 2025, and progress toward scientific breakeven equivalent by 2026.

In 2023, we achieved symmetrical compression of a solid lithium ring – a necessary step to scaling up for the LM26 compression system.

Our team then completed the assembly of a critical testbed 1/5th the scale of LM26’s compression system. The testbed, called Prototype 0, will validate our computer models using an electromagnetic “theta pinch” coil to compress a solid lithium liner to de-risk and inform the design of the full-scale system.

The successful rapid design and testing of the solid lithium rings advances key components for LM26

Resources

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Former EUROfusion CEO, Tony Donné, to Chair General Fusion’s Science and Technology Advisory Committee

RICHMOND, Canada (February 28, 2024): Today, General Fusion announced the appointment of Tony Donné as Chair of its Science and Technology Advisory Committee (STAC). Tony is one of the world’s foremost fusion experts, with nearly 40 years of scientific research

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Most Recent, News, Press Releases
Innovation in Action: LM26 On Track After Swift 2023 Launch

At General Fusion, radical innovation and rapid iteration come together to deliver technology that will change our energy landscape. Fusion is the ultimate clean energy solution – it is the energy source that powers the sun and stars. Fusion is

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Insights, Most Recent
General Fusion Confirms Liquid Wall Compression Technology for Commercial Magnetized Target Fusion in New Scientific Publication

RICHMOND, Canada (January 11, 2024): General Fusion has published new, peer-reviewed scientific results that validate the company has achieved the smooth, rapid, and symmetric compression of a liquid cavity that is key to the design of a commercial Magnetized Target Fusion

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Most Recent, News, Press Releases
General Fusion and University of Lisbon Collaborate on State-of-the-Art Diagnostic for LM26 Plasma Injector

RICHMOND, Canada (December 12, 2023): General Fusion and the University of Lisbon’s Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) have announced a collaboration agreement, through the University’s Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear (IPFN) research unit, to develop a key diagnostic for the

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Most Recent, News, Press Releases
Canadian Government Awards New Funding to General Fusion

RICHMOND, Canada (December 4, 2023):  Today, General Fusion announced that Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) has awarded CA$5 million to support research and development to advance the company’s Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) demonstration at its Richmond headquarters. Called LM26, this

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Most Recent, News, Press Releases
Canada eyes fusion energy program, laying groundwork as peers surge ahead

Canada has a home-grown fusion ecosystem, with General Fusion leading the private sector. In his latest for The Logic, David Reevely covers an exciting and positive development on the future of fusion in Canada: Read the article here

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