August M
A new approach to nuclear fusion is gaining attention as scientists pursue a long-promised energy breakthrough.
One company believes a complex design could eventually deliver simple, reliable power, reports the BBC.
A different path
Proxima Fusion, a German startup, is developing a machine aimed at producing clean, near-limitless energy.
According to the BBC, the company is focusing on a type of reactor known as a stellarator, rather than the more widely used tokamak design.
Fusion works by combining hydrogen nuclei to release large amounts of energy, similar to the process that powers the Sun.
The BBC reported that recreating this reaction on Earth requires extremely high temperatures and precise control of superheated plasma.
Complex by design
Unlike the doughnut-shaped tokamak, a stellarator uses a far more intricate structure with twisted magnetic fields.
According to the BBC, this makes the system harder and more expensive to build, but potentially easier to operate once running.
Francesco Sciortino, Proxima’s chief executive, described the contrast between the designs in simple terms.
“A stellarator is a thing that is objectively very difficult to design, objectively very difficult to build. But if you do it, it is a dumb machine… just like a microwave oven,”
Race for fusion
The project, called Alpha, aims to generate more energy than it consumes, a key milestone for fusion power.
According to the BBC, Proxima has already secured significant funding and is seeking further investment to continue development.
The company is one of more than 50 groups worldwide working on fusion technologies, each exploring different methods.
The BBC reported that rival projects, including the UK’s tokamak-based STEP programme, rely on simpler magnetic structures with established research foundations.
Engineering challenge
Building the complex magnets required for a stellarator remains one of the biggest obstacles.
Sciortino said: “The first magnet that we make will be very complicated and very expensive. But can we make it faster than people would expect, and can we drive down the cost?”
According to the BBC, Proxima is counting on Europe’s manufacturing expertise, particularly in precision machining, to meet these challenges.
The company aims to accelerate development timelines, targeting a faster rollout than previous projects.
Future potential
If successful, fusion could provide abundant electricity without carbon emissions.
According to the BBC, the wider industry is now shifting from theoretical research toward practical power generation.
“This isn’t a single-path race, it’s a set of approaches exploring different trade-offs. The real question now is not which concept is most interesting, but which can credibly deliver a power plant.”
Despite the hurdles, the growing momentum suggests fusion may be moving closer to becoming a viable energy source.
Sources: BBC
