Avalanche thinks the fusion power industry should think smaller

Avalanche Energy co-founder and CEO Robin Langtry advocates for smaller nuclear fusion reactors. The company has spent several years developing what is essentially a desktop-sized fusion device. Langtry said the team uses the small size to learn quickly and iterate quickly. The approach relies on electric current at high voltages to draw plasma particles into orbit around an electrode. Some magnets help maintain order, though they are far less powerful than those in tokamak designs. Other fusion efforts use large magnets or laser compression of fuel pellets. Avalanche recently closed a 29 million dollar funding round. R.A. Capital Management led the round, with participation from 8090 Industries, Congruent Ventures, Founders Fund, Lowercarbon Capital, Overlay Capital and Toyota Ventures. The company has raised 80 million dollars in total. Langtry previously worked at Blue Origin. That experience led him to favor a rapid iteration model similar to the SpaceX new space approach. The current Avalanche reactor measures 9 centimeters in diameter. A new version will grow to 25 centimeters and is projected to produce about 1 megawatt. The company operates the FusionWERX commercial testing facility. The site will be licensed to handle tritium by 2027. Langtry said Avalanche is on a timeline comparable to competitors such as Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Helion. He expects notable progress in fusion between 2027 and 2029.