EX-Fusion secures $18.1m funding for nuclear fusion development

This brings the startup’s total funding to nearly JPY 6b.

EX-Fusion, a nuclear fusion energy development company, has secured $18.1m (JPY 2.6b) in funding, fuelling its efforts to study and develop the technology.

According to Japan Atomic Industrial Forum, this latest investment boosted its total funding to $$38.98m (JPY 5.6b).

Typical nuclear fusion methods include the “Tokamak” type, which creates donut-shaped fuel plasma and confines it using magnetic fields in conditions similar to the high temperature and high-density environment of the sun. Another method is the “Laser” type, which employs inertia principles to briefly confine plasma, heating it with lasers to trigger rapid, momentary nuclear fusion reactions.

Nuclear fusion is currently being seen as a key solution for decarbonisation and energy security. The Japanese government is even targeting demonstration power generation in the 2030s.

With this latest funding round, EX-Fusion aims to demonstrate continuous operation that achieves ten fusion reactions per second. A successful demonstration would pave the way for applications beyond power generation, including manufacturing, healthcare, and space exploration, through high-power lasers and advanced optical control technologies.

$1 = JPY143.65