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Nuclear energy has long been hailed as a promising solution for sustainable and reliable power generation.
Unlike traditional fossil fuel-based methods, nuclear power offers a low-carbon alternative that can meet the world’s increasing energy demands.
However, concerns about safety, waste disposal, and the complexity of building nuclear reactors have posed challenges for the widespread adoption of this technology.
In the midst of these challenges, Renaissance Fusion emerges as a pioneering company aiming to revolutionize the nuclear energy landscape with its innovative approach to fusion power.
Simplified stellarators
Renaissance Fusion is at the forefront of developing simplified stellarators, a type of fusion reactor known for its ability to steadily operate fusion reactions.
By simplifying the design and leveraging high-temperature superconducting materials, Renaissance Fusion aims to overcome the complexities associated with traditional stellarators and make fusion power more accessible and feasible.
Their unique technology allows for the deposition of superconductors on cylinders surrounding the reactor, enabling the generation of higher magnetic fields and significantly reducing the size of the reactor.
This compactness not only simplifies construction but also holds the potential for fusion energy to become a reliable and scalable source of electricity.
With an ambitious long-term goal of connecting fusion energy to the grid by the 2030s, Renaissance Fusion is determined to contribute to the fight against climate change by providing carbon-free, abundant, and affordable electricity.
Their vision aligns with a future energy landscape that integrates fusion energy as a baseload power source complemented by renewable energy solutions.
Can you explain the unique technology behind your simplified stellarators, and how they differ from other fusion technologies?
We chose the stellarator for its unique ability to steadily operate fusion reactions, unlike other concepts.
The stellarator in itself is not new: it was invented in 1950.
But for long, it was set aside in favor of the tokamak.
The problem of such reactor is that they are difficult to build, due to their complex geometry.
Renaissance Fusion aims at drastically simplifying the design of the stellarator and especially that of the magnets.
To create its magnets, Renaissance Fusion will deposit high temperature superconducting materials directly on cylinders surrounding the vacuum vessel.
The magnets are then formed using an engraving technique: a laser will remove locally the superconducting material, thus delimiting the current paths.
The use of high temperature superconductors also allows us to circulate higher currents, thus generating higher magnetic field.
By doubling the magnetic field, we will reduce the size of the reactor by a factor four.
Being more compact, our reactor will be easier to build.
How do you see fusion energy fitting into the larger renewable energy landscape?
Fusion energy is not considered a renewable energy, although its resources are almost unlimited.
The advantage of fusion over renewable energies such as solar and wind is twofold.
Fusion is non-intermittent and can adapt the demand for electricity: it will provide energy when we need it and will not require any storage.
Fusion is land efficient: it will require much less land for the same power generated.
Still, we should not oppose Fusion and Renewables.
We see a future with Fusion energy as a baseload energy and renewables as a complementary source of energy.
Can you describe your recent successful seed round funding, and how it will help accelerate your progress towards commercialization?
We have successfully raised 15,4 M€ by private investors from US and EU.
This allows us to grow our team with new talented employees and develop our first phase of experimentation.
We aim to demonstrate our fusion-enabling technologies such as the wide deposit of superconductors and the liquid metal walls, for which we are building machines and demonstrators.
How do you plan to work with other institutions and stakeholders in the fusion energy field to bring your technology to market?
Fusion is a complex technology that still requires a lot of research and development.
A startups cannot do everything alone.
Our plan is to partner with universities, research centers and leading industrials for the development of key technologies such as the heating system, the cooling system, the tritium extraction system…
For our final reactor we also intend to partner with key companies that will equip our reactor with a secondary network so electricity can be produced and injected onto the grid.
What are the long-term goals for Renaissance Fusion, and what impact do you hope to have on the energy industry and the fight against climate change?
The long-term goal of Renaissance Fusion is obviously to develop and commercialize a fusion reactor that will provide carbon free, abundant, safe and cheap electricity; a one gigawatt electric reactor.
We intend to bring fusion energy onto the grid in the 2030s.
The installation of reactors will accelerate in the 2040s and 2050s so Fusion starts to have an impact on the decarbonization of the energy.
Now fusion alone cannot solve the energy problem.
Other solutions such as renewables, carbon capture and storage, energy storage, are needed to fight climate change during this transition period.
In the long term, we have not doubt that Fusion will be the energy of a sustainable future.
Some people are concerned about the safety of nuclear as an energy source. How does Renaissance Fusion ensure the safety of its fusion reactors?
We will use Deuterium and Tritium as the fuel of the reaction.
This reaction produces neutrons that can activate metals inside the reactor.
Furthermore Tritium is a low radioactive element we must manage.
But overall a fusion reactor is intrinsically much safer than a fission reactor with no chain reactions, no meltdown and low radioactivity.
In each country, the safety of reactors is ruled by a specific regulation.
A new regulation is being prepared for fusion reactors in US and UK.
Not yet in Europe but it might come.
We will abide by this regulation.
In any case, we will need bioshields that will stop the neutrons and specific handling tools for tritium.
In our case, we intend to used liquid metal walls as the first barrier to neutrons.
What is your timeline for achieving commercial fusion energy and how do you plan to make it cost-competitive with other energy sources?
Our goal is to connect fusion energy to the grid by the 2030s.
We target a levelized cost of electricity of 40 to 80 €/MWh.
We can achieve that thanks to our very efficient concept of stellarator: a compact reactor, generating continuously fusion energy in the safest way.
Fusion has long been seen as a promising source of clean energy, but it’s also faced skepticism and criticism from some quarters. What do you see as the biggest misconceptions about fusion, and how do you address them?
I guess the main misconceptions is that fusion has not made any progress or not enough to succeed before 2050.
So our job is to convince people, to explain them what was done, what remains to be done and how startups can accelerate the way to commercial fusion.
For more information, check out Renaissance Fusion.