1. Longview Fusion Energy has secured a contract with Fluor to design a commercial laser fusion power plant based on the recent fusion breakthrough at the National Ignition Facility.
2. Fusion energy interest has increased after the demonstration of fusion ignition at NIF, using laser-driven inertial confinement with high-energy lasers converging on a hydrogen-filled target capsule.
3. Longview plans to build the first laser fusion energy plant with Fluor, focusing on delivering safe and economical fusion energy to the marketplace without the need for a physics demonstration facility.
Longview Fusion Energy has partnered with Fluor to design a commercial laser fusion power plant following the success of fusion ignition at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Fusion involves the fusion of light atom nuclei under high temperatures to create heavier elements and release energy. NIF’s approach involves using the world’s highest-energy lasers to generate fusion reactions in small pellet targets. Longview aims to bring this technology to the commercial market starting in the 2030s with efficient lasers and modern design methods.
Other companies, such as Xcimer Energy and Blue Laser Fusion, are also pursuing laser inertial confinement fusion technology to harness the power of fusion for energy generation. The Fusion Industry Association reports that multiple companies believe a fusion plant capable of delivering electricity to the grid will be operational before 2035. Longview’s approach eliminates the need for a separate physics demonstration facility, streamlining the path to commercial fusion power generation.
Fluor’s expertise in the energy industry and modular construction methods will be crucial in designing the future fusion power plants. Longview’s plans involve creating a 50 MWe fusion pilot plant by the early 2030s, with the goal of scaling up to 440 MWe between 2030 and 2050. The fusion industry is rapidly evolving, with various companies exploring different methods to achieve fusion energy for widespread use in the future.