Fusion Companies in Need of Funding... Will They Sell 'Magnets' First? [Tech Talk]

Essential Components of Fusion Reactors: High-Temperature Superconductors

Magnets Operating Even at -200 Degrees Celsius

High Potential for Power Cables, Maglev Trains, and More

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The completion of a 'dream energy source'—the nuclear fusion power plant—remains a long way off. Private nuclear fusion research companies, which rely on investor funding, are always preoccupied with securing budgets. Recently, some fusion startups have chosen 'magnets' as a means to secure their own funding. Their strategy is to commercialize the high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets, invented during the process of developing fusion reactors, ahead of time.

Operates at Temperatures 100 Degrees Higher Than Conventional Superconductors

Commonwealth Fusion's proud 'D'-shaped high-temperature superconducting magnet. Commonwealth Fusion Systems website

HTS magnets are magnets made from superconducting materials. They are core components of nuclear fusion power facilities that operate based on the 'tokamak,' a hot plasma mass. These magnets emit powerful magnetic fields to stabilize the form of the tokamak.

For superconductors to function properly, a phenomenon called 'phase transition' must be maintained. The phase transition temperature of superconductors currently in use is close to absolute zero (around -280 degrees Celsius). This means superconductors can only be used inside specialized ultra-low-temperature cooling systems. Because maintaining the phase transition is so expensive, there has been a paradoxical situation where the cost of operating a fusion reactor outweighs its benefits.

High-temperature superconducting magnets are new superconducting materials developed to overcome these limitations. While they still operate at very low temperatures (about -200 to -180 degrees Celsius), it is possible to maintain a phase transition state at a much lower cost compared to conventional superconductors. Private companies developing tokamak fusion reactors, such as Commonwealth Fusion in the United States and Tokamak Energy in the United Kingdom, have devoted years to developing high-temperature superconductors.

Fusion Startups Join the Magnet Race

Tokamak Energy, which developed tape-type high-temperature superconducting magnets. Tokamak Energy website

As the time required to complete fusion reactors lengthens, private fusion ventures are moving forward with plans to commercialize superconducting magnets before fusion power plants. On April 2 (local time), Commonwealth Fusion announced it would sell its high-temperature superconducting magnets to another fusion startup, Realta Fusion. Previously, the company had allowed another startup, Type One Fusion, to license and manufacture its high-temperature superconducting magnet technology.

Commonwealth Fusion's high-temperature superconducting magnets are cutting-edge technology developed at a cost of hundreds of billions of won. According to the overseas tech media outlet 'TechCrunch,' "Commonwealth's sales contracts will help repay the costs incurred from developing superconducting magnets," adding that "over the past seven years, Commonwealth Fusion has built a manufacturing plant for high-temperature superconducting magnets tailored to the specifications of fusion power plants."

British fusion startup Tokamak Energy has established a subsidiary, 'TE Magnetics,' to sell its own high-temperature superconducting magnets. TE Magnetics also plans to apply superconducting magnets, which are used in fusion reactors, to various industries.

High Potential for MRI, Maglev Trains, Next-Generation Power Cables

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) devices are representative equipment equipped with superconductors. Philips website

Although high-temperature superconducting magnets were developed for fusion reactors, they can be applied across various fields. For example, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines also operate thanks to magnetic fields generated by superconductors. Applying high-temperature superconducting technology to MRI systems can lead to more energy-efficient devices. It is also considered a core technology for next-generation public transportation, such as maglev trains.

Power cables coated with superconductors have the potential to reduce transmission losses when transporting electricity, enabling the construction of more energy-efficient power grids. In early February, Microsoft (MS) announced that it was researching new power cables utilizing high-temperature superconducting coatings. Superconducting-coated cables are expected to have ten times the power capacity compared to conventional copper cables.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.