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Clean fusion energy: important step forward in efforts to stabilise plasma

Fusion energy reactor
After months of preparation, KTH has reached an exciting milestone in its fast-moving effort to build a reactor that can create and control the magnetic field required to keep super-hot plasma in place. Photo: Torbjörn Bergkvist
Published Jan 30, 2025

KTH has, in collaboration with Novatron Fusion Group (NFG), reached an exciting milestone in a fast-moving clean fusion energy project. After months of preparation, the research team has recently successfully managed to perform the first ionization tests with hydrogen plasma.

KTH hosts the test facility and supports the scientific part of the project. The milestone marks the beginning of experiments to confirm the N1 machine’s ability to stabilise plasma. Progress included successful tests of systems like vacuum, gas feed, magnet coils, and automation, as well as the first ionization tests with the Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating system.

These initial tests are just the start of a long experimental process. The goal is to build how to build a reactor that can create and control the magnetic field required to keep super-hot plasma in place.

The power of collaboration

“Nine months ago, the laboratory had an empty floor. Today, constructing and assembling the N1 machine shows the incredible effort of our team,” said Peter Roos, CEO of NFG.

Anders Söderholm, President of KTH, added, “At KTH, we have a long tradition in plasma physics, dating back to our Nobel laureate Hannes Alfvén. Novatron Fusion Group’s achievement highlights the power of collaboration between academia and industry to advance the field.”

Looking ahead, NFG plans to add more plasma heating and diagnostic systems to continue their research. "The ECR ionization tests show that all subsystems are working, and this will help guide future progress," said Jan Jäderberg, co-founder of NFG.

About Novatron Fusion Group

Novatron Fusion Group AB is a Swedish company headquartered in Stockholm. Founded in 2019, the company strives to establish large-scale fusion energy. Inspired by Swedish inventor and entrepreneur Jan Jäderberg's original idea, it is now being developed at a test facility housed by KTH. The NOVATRON technology remains the world’s only stable mirror-machine concept. Financial backers include Climentum Capital, EIT InnoEnergy, Granitor, Industrifonden, KTH Holding and Santander InnoEnergy Climate Fund. For more information, please visit www.novatronfusion.com

Text: Sturle Hauge Simonsen ( sturle@kth.se )