Key facts
- Proxima Fusion plans to build a €140 million factory for fusion-grade high-temperature superconducting tape.
- The factory aims to secure a critical component for the startup's fusion reactor design.
- The vast majority of high-temperature superconducting tape is currently produced in China and Japan.
- Proxima Fusion raised €411 million in a recent funding round.
- The state of Lower Saxony will contribute €21 million to the factory's funding.
- Proxima's demonstration plant will require 20,000 kilometers of HTS tape.
Proxima Fusion, a Germany-based fusion startup, announced plans to construct a €140 million factory dedicated to producing high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tape. This move is intended to secure a crucial component for its fusion reactor designs, which currently rely heavily on suppliers in China and Japan. The company aims to mitigate supply chain risks associated with these dominant Asian producers.
The new facility will be funded through a combination of public and private investment, with the state of Lower Saxony providing €21 million. This initiative follows Proxima Fusion's recent successful funding round, which raised €411 million and significantly boosted its financial standing among fusion startups.
HTS tape is essential for generating the powerful magnetic fields needed to contain plasma in fusion reactors. Proxima Fusion's demonstration plant is projected to require 20,000 kilometers of this tape, while its future commercial power plants will need double that amount. The development of HTS tape over the past decade has been a key enabler for modern fusion power startups, allowing for smaller and more efficient reactor designs due to its ability to create strong magnetic fields at relatively high temperatures. Beyond fusion, companies like Veir are also utilizing HTS tape to enhance data center efficiency and power density.