UK-based First Light Fusion (FLF), which is pursuing a new form of inertial confinement fusion, is discontinuing the proposed development of its demonstrator, Machine 4, to focus on advancing and commercialising its patented amplifier technology. This replaces previous plans to build its own power plant based on a projectile fusion approach. FLF said this will significantly reduce funding requirements while accelerating the path to revenue generation.
FLF, founded in 2011 as a spin-out from the University of Oxford, has provided a strategic update following a period of significant operational developments and the recent announcement of Mark Thomas as its newly appointed CEO.
The company said advancements in its proprietary amplifier technology, combined with progress in the wider inertial fusion energy (IFE) sector, “has provided an opportunity for the company to shift its business strategy, to capitalise on the huge IFE market opportunities enabling earlier revenues and lowering the long-term funding requirement”.
As part of this new strategy, FLF “plans to enter into commercial partnerships with other inertial fusion companies and schemes where its amplifier technology can form a critical and complementary part of a commercial fusion power plant, regardless of driver approach”.
FLF’s amplifier technology concentrates and shapes pressure to amplify power, enabling fusion power plants to be smaller, simpler, and less energy intensive. It can reduce driver CAPEX by two-thirds and reduce the operating frequency, both of which significantly improve plant feasibility and lower the attainable levelised cost of energy (LCOE).
FLF said the amplifier technology will revolutionise materials science research. It will enable other companies to access pressure ranges that could otherwise only be reached on very large, expensive machines. FLF’s amplifiers can more than double levels of pressure and increase speed by 75% on existing gas guns, unlocking exciting new R&D opportunities.
The new strategy will enable FLF “to leverage its amplifier technology to benefit multiple inertial driver schemes and become a cornerstone of a more cost-effective and expedited path to commercial fusion energy for other inertial fusion companies”. It will complement a wide range of existing inertial fusion approaches being developed in the US, Japan and Europe.
By designing targets for all inertial driver schemes, including lasers, FLF will be a critical enabler in the realisation of commercial fusion energy. The company will focus on the design and manufacture of consumable “targets” embedded with its proprietary amplifier technology, tailored to meet potential partners’ specific needs.
FLF believes its technology could revolutionise fusion power’s economic and commercial feasibility. With its amplifiers, FLF is set to play a critical role in unlocking the projected $1,600bn potential of the fusion energy market. With fuel amplifiers representing approximately 20% of the inertial fusion value chain, this presents a significant market opportunity.
At the same time, FLF will partner with companies, universities and institutions in non-fusion sectors that can benefit from its technology and research facilities across sectors including space exploration and defence. Its facilities include the UK’s largest two-stage gas gun and Europe’s largest pulsed power machine. FLF said it is working with NASA and the Open University to explore the potential applicability of its amplifier technology in high velocity impact testing.
One of the greatest risks to further space exploration is the risk of debris travelling at enormous speeds damaging satellites and vehicles. Alongside NASA, the Open University will explore potential applicability of the amplifier technology to test how critical materials sent to space react and perform under these high speeds and pressures, which cannot be replicated on conventional gas guns. FLF will lease its technology tests of shielding materials under greater speeds in a scalable and cost-effective way, whilst providing its expertise throughout.
Simultaneously, the company continues to strengthen its partnership with Sandia National Laboratories – home to the largest-pulsed power machine in the world. First Light set a new attainable pressure record on the Sandia’s Z Machine in February 2024 on its first shot First Light will fire further shots on the Z Machine over the course of 2025 as part of the Fundamental Science Program, and will provide an update on results in due course.
By diversifying into non-fusion sectors, First Light is transitioning to an immediate revenue-generating model far ahead of its original timeline. This shift ensures a sustainable business model and positions the company as a critical player in the broader innovation ecosystem.
“We know that the science of IFE is solid. Our outstanding results at Sandia proved our technology can work across different applications,” said FLF Chairman Bart Markus. “This combination of remarkable advancements in our own proprietary amplifier technology and progress in the inertial fusion energy sector has presented us with an opportunity to drive forward a business that will be critical to developing a global fusion power industry. Our new plan will accelerate our own revenue generation model by a decade and make First Light an integral enabler of our sector’s journey towards commercial fusion energy.”
FLF CEO Mark Thomas, noted: “By partnering with fusion companies worldwide, we can provide a critical piece of the supply chain for a viable fusion power plant. Developed and manufactured in Britain, this breakthrough will not only transform fusion but also open new frontiers in materials science and beyond.”
