Japan Promotes Further Commercialization Of Laser Fusion Energy

Recently, Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) and EX-Fusion announced the establishment of a collaborative research cluster focused on advancing the realization of liquid metal devices for commercial laser fusion reactors.A signing ceremony to formalize this partnership was held in Tokyo on Oct. 11, marking the official start of the joint efforts.
Specifically, the two companies have established the "EX-Fusion Liquid Metal Collaborative Research Cluster" under the auspices of the Tokyo Institute of Technology's Open Innovation Platform. The program is designed to provide support for research management, intellectual property strategy, and commercialization, with the ultimate goal of facilitating the implementation of research results from the collaborative research cluster.
There is a growing need for a greenhouse gas-free energy supply, and laser fusion reactors have gained high global recognition and expectations as a sustainable energy source. Unlike nuclear fusion, laser fusion is a technology that generates energy by inducing a fusion reaction through laser irradiation of fuel. Utilizing seawater resources, it provides a safe and sustainable energy supply option.
In addition, it has the ability to flexibly adapt to fluctuations in electricity demand and is expected to be a key player in driving decarbonization in the long run. However, as of today, commercial laser fusion reactors have not been realized, despite the extensive research and development efforts underway around the world to address technical challenges and improve energy efficiency.
Through collaborative research between EX-Fusion, which develops laser fusion reactors, and Tokyo Institute of Technology, which conducts academic research related to liquid metal fluids, the Cooperative Research Cluster aims to construct a concept for a liquid fuel envelope suitable for laser fusion reactors. It will also develop the necessary "liquid blanket" component technology, while conducting extensive joint research to design a model circuit for such a blanket.
The insights gained by the Liquid Metal Technology Group from this collaborative research are expected to be useful not only in the field of fusion, but also in a wide range of areas such as liquid metal mirrors and environmental cleanup technologies.
EX-Fusion is a start-up company developing key technologies for laser fusion reactors, including lasers and fuel targets. Based on the collaboration between EX-Fusion and Tokyo Institute of Technology, a leader in research on energy conversion systems using liquid metal fluids, they plan to work together to address such a wide range of technological applications, aiming to maximize the societal implementation of these technologies.
The Collaborative Research Cluster will utilize the accumulated technical expertise of Tokyo Institute of Technology to enhance technologies for large-scale synthesis of high-purity liquid lithium-lead fuel breeder materials that are critical for commercial reactor operations. It will also develop the final optical system for laser irradiation systems applying liquid metal technology.
By integrating these technologies, the two collaborative research clusters will design a covered model cycle. The application of liquid metal technologies developed through collaborative research to environmental purification technologies such as low-melting-point metal mirrors for deep space exploration and seawater desalination will also be considered.
Through the collaboration, EX-Fusion, which is developing laser and fuel target technologies for laser fusion reactor development, and Tokyo Institute of Technology, which is researching energy conversion systems using liquid metal fluids, aim to accelerate the early realization of laser fusion energy.
Future Plans
Over the next three years, the collaborative research clusters aim to advance methods for high-purity synthesis of liquid fuel enrichment materials, which are key to the laser fusion fuel cycle. The development of this technology is intended to support the global development of fusion energy.
In addition, while conceptualizing the "liquid blanket" system, they will develop various technologies related to its lifetime and operational efficiency. By integrating these blanket technologies into the laser fusion reactor developed by EX-Fusion, they aim to commercialize laser fusion energy within the next 10 years.