UKAEA awards £9.6m to advance fusion energy projects

#PrivateCredit #AssetBasedFinance #AssetBackedFinance Does Fusion produce radioactive nuclear waste the same way fission does? Nuclear fission power plants have the disadvantage of generating unstable nuclei; some of these are radioactive for millions of years. Fusion on the other hand does not create any long-lived radioactive nuclear waste. A fusion reactor produces helium, which is an inert gas. It also produces and consumes tritium within the plant in a closed circuit. Tritium is radioactive (a beta emitter) but its half life is short. It is only used in low amounts so, unlike long-lived radioactive nuclei, it cannot produce any serious danger. The activation of the reactor’s structural material by intense neutron fluxes is another issue. This strongly depends on what solution for blanket and other structures has been adopted, and its reduction is an important challenge for future fusion experiments. Can fusion cause a nuclear accident? No, because fusion energy production is not based on a chain reaction, as is fission. Plasma must be kept at very high temperatures with the support of external heating systems and confined by an external magnetic field. Every shift or change of the working configuration in the reactor causes the cooling of plasma or the loss of its containment; in such a case, the reactor would automatically come to a halt within a few seconds, since the process of energy production is arrested, with no effects taking place on the outside. For this reason fusion reactors are considered to be inherently safe.

BLOG: Nuclear fusion is close to becoming a $10 billion industry without generating any electricity—private companies haven’t achieved ignition. Though energy isn’t quite rolling in, cash certainly is. With many in the science and tech community referring to fusion as the “holy grail” of energy production, optimistic investors know now is the time to invest and are eager to plug in and, hopefully, ride the wave. Read more from Tobey Theiding:

Since 2018, Commonwealth Fusion Systems in Massachusetts has captured a third of global funding to commercialize nuclear fusion. Last Thursday, the company announced that it had raised an additional $863 million, bringing its total funding to $3 billion. A lengthy list of investors showed up for the latest round as the excitement for this long-promised technology continues to rise in the wake of recent engineering breakthroughs, reports Maria Gallucci for Canary Media Inc. More than 50 companies are now working in this space and collectively they garnered $2.64 billion in private and public funding in the past year, which is more than triple the previous year's total. In theory, nuclear fusion will supply clean and nearly limitless power by producing energy the same way the sun does, but without the same risks of meltdown as today’s nuclear fission plants. CFS is scheduled to start supplying power to Google from a plant in Virginia in the early 2030s. #NuclearFusion #CleanEnergy https://lnkd.in/eP9NYyJK

As the race for commercial nuclear fusion accelerates, so too does the legal and regulatory landscape around it. In our latest article, David Nitek, Natasha Anwar and I explore the key legal considerations for those involved in fusion energy projects. A must-read for contractors, developers, and anyone working at the frontier of energy innovation. https://lnkd.in/eM3Nisju #NuclearFusion #EnergyLaw #ConstructionLaw #FutureOfEnergy #BealeAndCo

I recently spoke with a U.S. News & World Report for their new piece on how to invest in nuclear fusion stocks. It was a pleasure to share my perspective on the opportunities and challenges in this next wave of clean-energy innovation. Fusion remains a long-term play, but the technology and funding momentum we’re seeing today is unlike anything before. https://lnkd.in/dRv5xqV5

Nuclear Fusion Heats Up: A Global Race Toward Clean Energy Introduction Long considered the “Holy Grail” of clean energy, nuclear fusion is gaining momentum as projects emerge across the globe. An updated map from the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) reveals a surge of initiatives aiming to replicate the Sun’s energy process here on Earth—offering the promise of limitless power without greenhouse gases or long-lived radioactive waste. The Fusion Dream • What It Is • Fusion merges atomic nuclei to release massive amounts of energy, unlike fission which splits atoms and produces radioactive waste. • Achieving controlled fusion on Earth could provide abundant, safe, and sustainable power. • Historic Breakthrough • In 2022, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieved the first-ever net energy gain from a fusion reaction. • This milestone proved fusion is scientifically possible, sparking global competition to scale it into viable energy production. Global Expansion • Worldwide Investment • Dozens of fusion projects are now underway, spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. • Both government-backed labs and private startups are racing to build the first functional fusion power plants. • Commercial Push • Companies are drawing billions in investment, betting that fusion will move from experimental success to commercial reality within decades. • Efforts focus on refining reactor designs, improving plasma confinement, and developing materials that can withstand extreme conditions. Challenges Ahead • Achieving sustained, repeatable net energy gain remains elusive. • Engineering hurdles include managing superheated plasma and building reactors that can operate safely and economically. • Even with rapid progress, experts caution that commercial fusion power may still be 10–20 years away. Why This Matters The rise of nuclear fusion projects signals a turning point in the global energy landscape. If successful, fusion could transform how the world powers itself, offering virtually limitless clean energy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The global race is now less about if fusion will happen and more about who will get there first. I’ve had the privilege of reaching over 17 million views in the past year, sharing daily insights with a network of 26,000+ followers and 9,000+ professional contacts across defense, technology, and policy. If this topic resonates, I welcome you to connect and continue the conversation. Keith King https://lnkd.in/gHPvUttw

Fusion Fuel Cycles: $20 Million Investment Raised From General Atomics: Fusion Fuel Cycles (FFC), a joint venture between Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and Kyoto Fusioneering, has announced a significant development in fusion technology. The company recently reached an agreement with General Atomics (GA) to secure a $20 million, ten-year strategic investment into the UNITY-2 project. This collaboration brings together two leading organizations in the field of fusion energy, aiming to accelerate the deployment of FFC's flagship initiative, the Unique Integrated Testing Facility (UNITY-2). Once operational, UNITY-2 will be the world's first fully integrated fusion fuel cycle facility. The post Fusion Fuel Cycles: $20 Million Investment Raised From General Atomics appeared first on Pulse 2.0.

According to a recent market forecast, the SMR industry is set for robust growth from 2025 to 2034 as modular nuclear solutions gain traction for clean and reliable energy. - In 2024, North America led the market, but Asia Pacific is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR. - Light Water Reactors (LWR)/iPWR dominated the technology segment in 2024, while Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) are expected to show remarkable growth. - The 'small' power rating (100-300 MWe) held the largest market share in 2024, with the 'micro' segment (<10 MWe) rising fast. - Grid power held the highest application share in 2024, while industrial heat is expected to grow significantly. Interestingly, AI is playing an increasing role in enhancing SMR efficiency and safety. In 2025, the Governments of India and France launched an AI plan to improve SMR collaboration, highlighting the pivotal role AI could play in future SMR applications 🔍. For those in the energy or related sectors, the SMR market offers compelling investment and innovation opportunities. As a recruiter, I'm excited about the potential for new jobs and careers in this burgeoning field! 💼 #CleanEnergy #NuclearSMRs #FutureOfEnergy

⚡☢️ Stellaria Secures $25M to Build Next-Gen Molten Salt Reactor 🌍🔋 French startup STELLARIA 🌀 has raised $25.2M, bringing total funding to $36M, to develop its Stellarium molten salt nuclear reactor prototype, a fourth-gen design that aims to deliver 20+ years of low-carbon energy with minimal radioactive waste. The funding will allow Stellaria to double its workforce, accelerate R&D, and build an industrial demonstrator, with the first reaction targeted for 2029. The reactor is designed to provide stable, high-power output for electro-intensive industries while cutting waste compared to conventional fission. Why it matters: Molten salt reactors offer safe, long-duration, carbon-free energy, a critical enabler for meeting rising global demand without fossil fuel dependence. 📢The bigger picture: By advancing cleaner nuclear fission, Stellaria is positioning Europe at the forefront of next-gen energy innovation, supporting both industrial growth and the global clean energy transition. #NuclearEnergy #MoltenSalt #CleanEnergy #EnergyTransition #ClimateTech #LowCarbon #FutureOfEnergy #Sustainability #Decarbonization #AdvancedNuclear #Innovation https://lnkd.in/dy3qdCdS

US-based Aalo Atomics has raised $100M in Series B funding to build its first modular nuclear power plant, designed to power AI-driven data centers sustainably. With compact, factory-built reactors and a co-located #datacenter, Aalo is reshaping how nuclear #energy can fuel the future of #technology and global energy needs. Matt Loszak Jennefer Traeger #NuclearEnergy #CleanTech #AI #SustainableEnergy #ESG #ClimateAction #EnergyTransition #esgworldnews #esgworld #esg https://lnkd.in/ghyxnqQd