American fusion energy company, Type One Energy, has chosen Canadian engineering firm AtkinsRéalis to develop the preliminary design for its Fusion Pilot Plant.
This facility aims to demonstrate the potential of stellarator technology to generate clean, safe, and cost-effective energy through fusion.
Design and Engineering Collaboration
AtkinsRéalis has announced that its UK-based fusion team will collaborate with US-based experts to provide multi-disciplinary engineering services. This will encompass developing comprehensive plant requirements, pre-conceptual facility designs, and an initial site layout.
Working closely with Type One Energy, AtkinsRéalis will integrate established project delivery methods with cutting-edge fusion technologies, aiming to mitigate risks and optimize costs associated with the fusion plant’s construction.
Strategic Alliance for Commercialization
“This project marks the first step in a strategic partnership with Type One Energy as they work to commercialize their technology and advance the potential of fusion to drive the US energy transition,” stated Jason Dreisbach, director of advanced energy technologies at AtkinsRéalis.
“With our extensive experience in fusion globally, we are uniquely positioned to support the transformation of Type One Energy’s fusion technology into a commercially viable and sustainable energy source for a net-zero future.”
Selection Based on Expertise and Knowledge
“We chose AtkinsRéalis due to their subject matter expertise across various disciplines, including engineering, planning, and deployment, as well as their accumulated knowledge and market presence in the emerging fusion technology sector,” said Gregg Schneider, Type One Energy’s Vice President of Global Partnerships and Supply Chain Management. “We believe that fostering long-term business and functional relationships will benefit both parties as we consider additional work scopes over the next decade.”
Tennessee Prototype: Infinity One
In February, Type One Energy unveiled plans to build Infinity One – its prototype stellarator fusion machine – at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Bull Run Fossil Plant in Clinton, Tennessee.
The project stems from a tri-party memorandum of understanding signed in 2023 between TVA, Type One Energy, and the US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in which the partners expressed interest in the successful development and commercialization of economically viable and practical fusion energy technologies.
Construction Timeline and Purpose
Type One Energy noted that construction of Infinity One could commence in 2025, following the completion of necessary environmental reviews, partnership agreements, permits, and operating licenses. This prototype will enable the company to verify crucial design features of its high-field stellarator Fusion Pilot Plant, focusing on aspects such as operational efficiency, reliability, maintainability, and affordability.
Stellarator Technology: A Fusion Alternative
Type One Energy’s Infinity One is a stellarator fusion reactor – distinct from a tokamak fusion reactor like the Joint European Torus in the UK or the Iter device under construction in France. A tokamak is based on a uniform toroid shape, while a stellarator twists that shape into a figure-8.
This design addresses the challenges tokamaks face when magnetic coils confining the plasma are inherently less dense on the outer edge of the toroidal ring.
Advanced Manufacturing and Computational Physics
Type One Energy stated that it “applies proven advanced manufacturing methods, modern computational physics, and high-field superconducting magnets to develop its optimized stellarator fusion energy system.”