Type One Energy initiates licensing of fusion power plant

Type One Energy said it worked closely with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC) to prepare the "first-of-a-kind" application for a byproduct material licence, "demonstrating compliance with key licensing requirements for fusion energy technology as part of a comprehensive application process".

Project Infinity - which encompasses the Infinity One prototype and workforce training centre together with the 350 MWe Infinity Two fusion power plant - will proceed in several phases at TVA’s Bull Run site. Bull Run Fossil Plant is located on the north bank of Bull Run Creek, directly across the Clinch River from Oak Ridge. The 865 MW coal-fired power plant entered operation in 1967 and was retired on 1 December 2023.

The first phase of Project Infinity, deployment of Infinity One operated by Type One Energy, is scheduled for commissioning and startup in 2029. Type One Energy's Infinity One is a stellarator fusion reactor - different to a tokamak fusion reactor such as the Joint European Torus in the UK or the Iter device under construction in France. A tokamak is based on a uniform toroid shape, whereas a stellarator twists that shape in a figure-8. This is intended to get round the problems tokamaks can face when magnetic coils confining the plasma are necessarily less dense on the outside of the toroidal ring.

In September, TVA issued Type One Energy a Letter of Intent to develop and build Infinity Two - a first-generation 350 MWe baseload power plant using the company's stellarator fusion technology - with construction starting as early as 2028. Type One Energy completed the first formal design review of Infinity Two in May last year. Final decisions and definitive agreements regarding the funding and construction of Infinity Two, as well as any agreements to purchase the energy output, are subject to TVA Board approval, regulatory review, and alignment with least-cost planning processes, amongst other things, TVA has previously said.

"Today's byproduct material licence application is a 'safety by design' protocol for fusion facility licensing with significant performance margins to ensure safety is optimised throughout the design process," Type One Energy said. "In this context, the Infinity Two fusion power plant is designed for regulatory approval and deployment around the globe."

"Today is an important milestone for Type One Energy, TVA and the State of Tennessee," said Type One Energy CEO Christofer Mowry. "We've been working closely together since February 2024, sharing relevant design information and knowledge that is essential to establish the appropriate licensing conditions for a fusion power plant. This collaboration makes Tennessee an international model of 'safety by design' and transparency for licensing fusion machines."

TVA President and CEO Don Moul added: "TVA is proud to play a leading role in supporting the advancement of fusion energy – a technology that represents the next frontier in low-cost, reliable power. Our collaboration with Type One Energy and the State of Tennessee highlights how innovation and partnership can strengthen America's energy security and advance the nation's commitment to energy leadership. Through initiatives like Project Infinity, TVA is helping ensure that the Tennessee Valley remains at the forefront of delivering prosperity for American families."

"The announcement today supercharges Tennessee's reputation as the global hub for nuclear innovation," said TDEC Commissioner David Salyers. "This application lays the groundwork for subsequent submissions and is a byproduct of the collaboration between fusion energy companies like Type One Energy and TDEC in establishing a first-of-its-kind state regulatory framework for fusion energy in Tennessee."