An Australian company is positioning itself in the global pursuit of potentially limitless power by cracking the code for sustained fusion energy. The Sydney-based HB11 Energy is focusing on advancing laser fusion technology, which presents a potential avenue for sustainable baseload capacity.
Fusion power – as the name suggests – is the opposite of conventional nuclear fission and involves two lighter atomic nuclei combining to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy. Energy produced from a fusion reaction, unlike fossil fuels, produces no carbon emissions and, unlike nuclear fission, doesn't create long-lived radioactive waste.
The US is determined to lead the race in this field, mirroring the government-private enterprise collaborations seen in the likes of the NASA-SpaceX partnership that has revolutionised space exploration.
The US Department of Energy is going all in, pouring serious money into fusion research. HB11 has been on the receiving end of this enthusiasm, landing a US$10 million project to tackle some of the toughest challenges in laser-driven fusion tech.
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HB11 uses high-intensity lasers to initiate fusion reactions between hydrogen and boron-1, which HB11 founder Dr Warren McKenzie is his company's unique selling proposition.
"This method seeks to address some concerns about radioactive waste and proliferation associated with traditional fusion fuels," McKenzie explained, noting that this technology could provide cost-competitive power, which is crucial for commercial success.
"Fusion energy presents numerous scientific, technological, and commercial challenges," he added.
"For laser fusion, one of the biggest obstacles is the precise insertion of fuel targets at high speed into a reactor chamber and striking them with powerful lasers. This must happen at a rate of one to ten times per second, requiring sub-micron accuracy."
The US is allocating resources from national laboratories to speed up development efforts. At the same time, competition is intensifying as China has made significant advancements, recently launching what is thought to be the world's largest laser fusion facility, which could have both civilian and military applications.
"Right now, it's a US-China race," McKenzie said. "Both countries are pouring vast resources into fusion, and the question of who gets there first remains open. However, the US is highly organised, leveraging its national labs and private sector partnerships."
Australia isn't as advanced in fusion energy as the US but HB11 wants to change that by finding funding to make advanced lasers and fuel targets locally. However, McKenzie says it's a challenging pastime due to a weaker local venture capital scene compared to the bigger investments in the US.
"We have had strong support through research grants and tax incentives, but there are no ministerial programs dedicated to fusion in Australia," he said.
"The country has historically struggled to back long-term energy innovations—look at what happened with solar. But this is an opportunity to position Australia at the forefront of a trillion-dollar industry."
HB11 is working to raise more money to support its laser development projects. The company is actively involved in discussions about the future of fusion research in the US fusion industry.
"The US deal is significant," McKenzie noted. "It provides us access to cutting-edge technology and validation pathways that bring us closer to our goal of building the first commercial fusion power plant. The challenge now is ensuring that Australia plays a meaningful role in this transformative industry rather than watching from the sidelines."
As global fusion development progresses, HB11's achievements may determine Australia's position in the evolving energy sector. With national energy security increasingly intertwined with technological advancement, there is a growing imperative for Australia to embrace fusion energy as a viable opportunity.