Innovative Gyrotrons to Boost U.S. Department of Energy’s DIII-D National Fusion Facility Operations
Kyoto Fusioneering has announced an agreement with General Atomics (GA) to supply two advanced gyrotrons to the U.S. Department of Energy’s DIII-D National Fusion Facility in San Diego, California. Scheduled for deployment by 2026, these gyrotrons will be the first from Kyoto Fusioneering to be integrated into the United States’ fusion research infrastructure, following a series of successful global engagements.
Gyrotrons are instrumental in magnetic confinement fusion devices, enabling the stable, highly efficient generation of high-frequency, high-power millimeter waves. These capabilities are fundamental to generating, heating, and maintaining plasma conditions that are critical for fusion reactions. Kyoto Fusioneering’s gyrotrons are at the forefront of this technology, offering unprecedented improvements in multiple operational frequency, efficiency, output power, and longevity. These enhancements are pivotal to transitioning fusion energy from research laboratories to practical, commercial energy solutions.
Keishi Sakamoto, CTO of Kyoto Fusioneering, with an extensive thirty-year tenure in gyrotron research, development, and commercialization, remarked, “This collaboration with GA is a testament to our unwavering dedication to bring our technology to support the global fusion endeavor. Our advanced gyrotrons will empower the DIII-D facility to push the boundaries of fusion research and accelerate the path to commercialization.”
Dr. Richard Buttery, Director of the DIII-D National Fusion Facility, added, “We are very excited to partner with Kyoto Fusioneering to increase DIII-D’s heating power. This purchase is part of a broader, continuous effort to keep the facility’s capabilities at the cutting edge of fusion research and meet the needs of the U.S. fusion research community and our global User base.”
On February 1, 2023, Kyoto Fusioneering launched its U.S. subsidiary in Seattle. The expansion is part of the company’s ongoing effort to bring its expertise in critical plant technologies to the forefront of the fusion energy ecosystem in the U.S., and to foster closer collaborations and drive technological advancements within the industry.
As a global pioneer in fusion solutions, Kyoto Fusioneering remains dedicated to being the partner of choice in advancing fusion technology and realizing its potential as a revolutionary energy source.
About Kyoto Fusioneering Ltd.
Kyoto Fusioneering is a privately funded technology start-up founded in 2019 in Kyoto, with its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. Building upon decades of research at Kyoto University, the company is focused on developing advanced technologies for commercial fusion reactors, including gyrotron systems, tritium fuel cycle technologies, and breeding blankets for tritium production and power generation. Kyoto Fusioneering is developing innovative solutions that are simultaneously high-performance and commercially viable. Supporting both public and private fusion developers around the world, the company is accelerating the realization of fusion as the ultimate energy source for humankind.
Explore more about KF’s vision for the future of energy at www.kyotofusioneering.com/en/ or by contacting media@kyotofusioneering.com
About the DIII-D National Fusion Facility
DIII-D is the largest magnetic fusion research facility in the U.S. and has been the site of numerous pioneering contributions to the development of fusion energy science. DIII-D continues the drive toward practical fusion energy with critical research conducted in collaboration with more than 650 scientists representing 95 institutions worldwide. As a U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science User Facility, participation in DIII-D research is open to all interested parties.
For more information, visit https://d3dfusion.org/.
About General Atomics
General Atomics (GA) is a leading defense and diversified technologies company based in San Diego, California. Originally founded in 1955 to research peaceful applications for nuclear energy, GA is the principal U.S. private sector participant in fusion research through its internationally recognized DIII-D and inertial confinement programs for the DOE. GA’ is also a leader in the development of next-generation nuclear fission and high-temperature materials technologies. GA’s Electromagnetic Systems Division produces electro-magnetic aircraft launch and recovery systems for the US Navy, satellite surveillance, electro-magnetic rail gun, high power laser, hypervelocity projectile, and power conversion systems. It’s Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) produces a series of unmanned aircraft and provides electro-optical, radar, signals intelligence, and automated airborne surveillance systems.
