We are thrilled to share highlights from a recent, intensive week of technical engagements by our robotics team with pioneering US and Canadian private fusion companies — a clear sign of UKAEA’s commitment to supporting diverse approaches to fusion energy and accelerating the path to commercial power.
During this visit, our team engaged with:
- Helion Energy (Field-Reversed Configuration)
- Zap Energy (Sheared-flow-stabilised Z-Pinch)
- Avalanche Energy (Electrostatic Confinement Fusion)
- General Fusion (Magnetised Target Fusion)
- In addition, we made a productive stop at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), known for its work on inertial confinement fusion.
Opportunities for collaboration
Each of these innovative approaches brings unique advantages:
- Helion’s direct energy capture and rapid iteration cycle (machine: Polaris)
- Zap Energy’s compact, high repetition rate design (machine: FuZE)
- Avalanche’s kWe-scale distributed systems (machines: FusionWERX)
- General Fusion’s scalable MTF technology (machine: Lawson Machine 26)
Beyond the technologies themselves, we were excited to discover strong, mutual interest in collaboration across several critical enabling areas that underpin the future of fusion energy:
- Remote Handling & Maintenance: Partners are keen to engage in training and design support for next-generation fusion machines. Notably, there is particular interest in advanced robotics capabilities and process automation tools that can enhance operational efficiency and safety.
- Fuel Cycle & Tritium Management: Multiple organisations expressed enthusiasm for UKAEA’s expertise in tritium thermal treatment and waste management strategies. Specifically, they are interested in the use of specialised facilities to support future deuterium-tritium operations and reduce long-term liabilities.
- Training & Skills Development: There is growing demand for remote handling operations training and broader outreach programmes. These initiatives aim to help build skilled teams capable of supporting complex fusion systems.
By engaging with these diverse concepts and offering our world-leading expertise in remote handling, tritium, and advanced manufacturing, UKAEA is actively supporting the entire global fusion ecosystem. Ultimately, these partnerships are vital to de-risk and accelerate the journey towards fusion energy becoming a reliable, safe, and environmentally responsible source of power for the world.
