First Light Fusion

Today we publish our response to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's consultation on a new National Policy Statement for Fusion Energy. The new Labour Government must recognise the opportunity of fusion and act immediately to maintain the UK’s world-leading position in the field. We are calling for: ✅ Support for multiple fusion technologies: The NPS should ensure genuine Government support for both magnetic and inertial fusion technologies currently under active development in the UK. This approach will increase the likelihood of a successful breakthrough and reflect the rapid progress being made to date with inertial fusion. ✅ Clear siting guidelines for fusion plants: To avoid potential delays similar to those experienced with grid connections for other types of commercial power plant, the NPS must develop and publish clear guidelines for the siting of fusion plants. ✅ A coordinated cross-departmental approach: A coordinated and joined-up approach across both the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will be essential to progressing fusion research and development and commercialisation. ✅ An ambitious target date for commercial fusion: The Government’s proposals for a National Policy Statement for fusion in their current form do not commit to a specific deployment deadline for commercial fusion energy facilities. Establishing a target date for first commercial fusion in the UK by 2040 will catalyse investment, research and focus towards achieving this goal. This should be ambitious yet achievable to drive progress and demonstrate the UK’s ongoing commitment to leading in fusion energy. Read our full submission to the government consultation here: https://lnkd.in/eE9xaqz9

At First Light Fusion, we are proud to have developed a revolutionary new approach to inertial fusion, designed to offer a cheaper and simpler path to commercial fusion.   In the first in a new series showcasing the best of First Light talent and ingenuity, Head of Target Design Matthew Betney explains his role in developing the core IP underpinning this approach - the First Light Fusion amplifier.   Learn all about it below:

David Bryon pitches First Light Fusion at Ecosummit Berlin 2024. First Light’s mission is to solve the problem of fusion power with the simplest machine possible. Projectile fusion is a new approach to inertial fusion that is simpler, more energy efficient and has lower physics risk. On 5 April 2022, the University of Oxford spin-out announced it has achieved fusion, independently validated by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). This is the first time fusion has been achieved using the unique targets developed by First Light, and the corresponding projectile technology. First Light developed and sells inertial fusion power amplifiers that make fusion power cheaper. First Light Fusion is very Capex-light and currently raises £60M Series D. Let's meet again at Ecosummit Berlin 3-4 June 2025, our 15th anniversary. https://lnkd.in/dBq-QjYy

"What I find really exciting is the variety of approaches that are rising to the challenge of solving fusion power. It is testament to the ingenuity of the scientific community that we have been able to come up with so many different solutions, and that there is growing support funding-wise from private investors and governments who see the potential too." This week, in the latest installment of our ‘Meet the Team’ series, we spoke to Lead First Light Scientist Dr Francisco Suzuki-Vidal. Francisco led our experimental success with European research partners in Sweden and Italy last month to dissect the implications of supersonic dust-impacts in tokamak fusion devices We sat down with Francisco to find out what excites him most about the future of the fusion industry, and how he collaborates with academics across the country to meet our fusion goals. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eGMY7iv4

Great to see our very own Martin Yagi featured in IAM's list of leading IP strategists for 2024 - congratulations Martin.

The UK Fusion Skills Council is today announcing the appointment of two new co-chairs to support the growth of the fusion sector and workforce... Future scientists, engineers, and central support staff need to be given the skills and opportunities to enter the cutting-edge fusion industry. This goal has led to a collaboration between the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), Tokamak Energy, First Light Fusion, and 17 other commercial organisations and academic institutions to support the fusion sector’s growing workforce with 2,200 people over the next five years. “We need to empower the next generation now in our quest to deliver fusion as a secure supply of clean and affordable energy to meet rising demand and address climate change,” says Jane Shannon, Director of People and Engagement at Tokamak Energy, and new co-chair of the UK Fusion Skills Council. This programme’s key workstreams are ‘Academia’, ‘Industry’ and ‘Skills Hub’, with desired outcomes including: 🔵 Increasing the number of apprentices and graduates within the sector; 🔵 Universities increasing the number of post-graduate courses and doctorates; 🔵 International partners increasing the post-doctoral training opportunities within fusion. This programme will also support outreach to schools and STEM education innovations. The UK Fusion Skills Council’s other co-chair is Ryan Ramsey, Chief Operations Officer from First Light Fusion. These new appointments are with immediate effect and provide an advisory and monitoring role to the programme’s leadership team. Ramsey commented: “I’m deeply proud to be joining the UK Fusion Skills Council on behalf of First Light Fusion. It is a vitally important collaboration on meeting the future skills requirements in fusion. “Fusion is a multi-generational challenge, and the next generation of scientists, engineers and technicians will be an essential part in delivering commercial fusion energy for the benefit of all. Working in fusion is about unlocking a new, clean energy source and decarbonising our planet. I hope more of our best talent will join us on that journey to change the world,” he added. Nick Walkden, Head of Fusion Skills at UKAEA, said: “We are delighted to have Jane and Ryan in position alongside the diverse membership of the UK Fusion Skills Council. The challenge and opportunity presented by skills growth for fusion is one that we all share, and we are dedicated to ensuring that the benefits of this important programme are felt throughout our sector.” Organisations represented within UK Fusion Skills Council include: UKAEA, Tokamak Energy, First Light Fusion, Fusion CDT, TAE Technologies, Inc, Rullion, Kyoto Fusioneering, Oxford Sigma, EDF, digiLab, Jacobs, AtkinsRéalis, Assystem, Frazer-Nash Consultancy, MTC - Manufacturing Technology Centre, UK Research and Innovation, University of Bristol, University of Birmingham, The University of Manchester, University of York Photo: (L-R) Nick Walkden, Ryan Ramsey, Jane Shannon

We are delighted that our COO, Ryan Ramsey, has been appointed by UK Atomic Energy Authority as one of the two new co-chairs of the Fusion Skills Council today. The Fusion Skills Council is an important sector collaboration between ourselves, UKAEA, Tokamak Energy and 17 other commercial organisations and academic institutions, to support the fusion sector's growing workforce with 2,200 people over the next five years. Ryan will co-chair alongside Jane Shannon at Tokamak Energy. Jane said: “We need to empower the next generation now in our quest to deliver fusion as a secure supply of clean and affordable energy to meet rising demand and address climate change." Ryan said: “I’m deeply proud to be joining the UK Fusion Skills Council on behalf of First Light Fusion. It is a vitally important collaboration on meeting the future skills requirements in fusion. Fusion is a multi-generational challenge, and the next generation of scientists, engineers and technicians will be an essential part in delivering commercial fusion energy for the benefit of all. Working in fusion is about unlocking a new, clean energy source and decarbonising our planet. I hope more of our best talent will join us on that journey to change the world." #fusion #skills #nextgen #UKAEA TAE Technologies, Inc Rullion Kyoto Fusioneering Oxford Sigma EDF digiLab Jacobs AtkinsRéalis Assystem Frazer-Nash Consultancy MTC - Manufacturing Technology Centre UK Research and Innovation University of Bristol University of Birmingham The University of Manchester University of York

It is great to welcome Hugo Doyle, Head of Experimental Physics at First Light Fusion who will be providing his expertise on Panel 8:'Pioneering Global Collaboration for Net Zero Transformation,' at Energy Landscape UK in September in London. To hear from Hugo or any of our other expert panelists you need to be registered. With limited space it's worth getting in touch today to ensure you do not miss out on the most anticipated event of the year. If you really want to see a change towards a sustainable future for energy in the UK you have to be involved. #ELUK2024 #Fusion #Sustainability #NetZero #Government #UK

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting 14 interns from Woodruff Scientific LTD as part of the UK Atomic Energy Authority Fusion Industry Program Summer Placement Scheme. This fantastic initiative provides undergraduate university students from across the UK the chance to work directly with experts in the fusion industry for eight weeks over the summer holidays. It was great to show the interns around our cutting edge facilities and discuss all the latest scientific progress happening here at First Light and across the fusion industry. #fusion #thefutureisfusion

At First Light Fusion, we are proud to be funding the 'Amplifi Prosperity Partnership', in collaboration with the EPSRC. The ambitious partnership is the largest Inertial Fusion Energy collaboration in the UK. As part of the Partnership, our university partners, the University of York, University of Oxford and Imperial College London, all take on summer students to help with their research. On Monday, we were delighted to welcome the Partnership interns to First Light Fusion HQ in Oxford. The students were given a tour of our cutting-edge facilities and the chance to see First Light's groundbreaking research in action. This was followed by a series of talks led by our talented First Light team, demonstrating the latest advancements in target design, numerical coding & data science, and the experimental & pulsed power innovative solutions for fusion energy. It was great to see so much excitement about the future of fusion and to share our plans and ambitions with the next generation of talented physicists! #fusion #thefutureisfusion Francisco Suzuki-Vidal Claudia González Simon Bland