TVA and Type One Energy target a 350 MWe fusion power plant

Tennessee Valley Authority signs a Letter of Intent with Type One Energy for a 350 MWe stellarator project at Bull Run, designed for baseload and intended to meet rising electricity demand.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90€/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90€/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 €/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99€/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 €/year from the second year.

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Type One Energy covering the potential deployment of a fusion power plant at the former Bull Run coal site near Oak Ridge. The project, named Infinity Two, targets a capacity of 350 megawatts electrical (MWe) in baseload service. The selected technology is the stellarator, engineered for steady-state operation. According to the partners, this approach seeks to provide dispatchable supply at competitive prices.

Technical parameters and scale-up

Type One Energy plans to develop Infinity Two using existing materials and fundamental fusion technologies to support near-term deployment. The LOI also covers potential use of prototype facilities as a training centre for operators and maintenance teams dedicated to Infinity Two. The MWe measure reflects net electrical output delivered to the grid. The site choice repurposes a retired thermal facility, anchoring the project in an industrial setting already connected to transmission.

The collaboration highlights continuous baseload output aimed at meeting rising demand linked to artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing and advanced manufacturing. TVA positions this track within its pursuit of advanced nuclear technologies intended to deliver reliable, on-demand energy. The partners note that the stellarator has demonstrated stability and steady-state operation with high efficiency. This feature is presented as essential for operators facing variable demand and cost constraints.

Decision framework and prerequisites

Final decisions regarding funding and construction of Infinity Two, as well as any power purchase agreements, remain subject to TVA Board approval. The project is also contingent on applicable regulatory reviews. It must align with the public utility’s least-cost planning processes. At this stage, the LOI formalises strategic interest without constituting definitive commitments.

Don Moul, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), said: “TVA is a leader in pursuing advanced nuclear technologies we need to power America’s economic prosperity and fuel artificial intelligence, quantum computing and advanced manufacturing.” Christofer Mowry, Chief Executive Officer of Type One Energy, stated: “We are really honored to be working with TVA on the world’s first private sector fusion power plant project.” Tennessee Governor Bill Lee supported the initiative: “Tennessee is ready-made to lead America’s energy independence, and today’s announcement further strengthens our position as a leader in safe, clean, and reliable energy.” “I am excited about the possibility of the first U.S. commercial stellarator fusion power plant being built in the Tennessee Valley,” added Don Moul.

General Atomics injects $20mn into Fusion Fuel Cycles, a joint venture between Canada and Japan, to develop a facility dedicated to the tritium fuel cycle, a central element for the industrial viability of nuclear fusion.
The American start-up promises an energy revolution in 2028 with its unique deuterium-helium-3 technology. Between immense technical challenges and a bold financial gamble.
The UK government is introducing specific rules to facilitate the development of nuclear fusion projects, aiming to position the UK as a global leader in this emerging technology.
The European Union is investing EUR202mn in the IFMIF-DONES project in Granada to test materials intended for future fusion power plants, in cooperation with Spain, Croatia, Italy, and Japan.
Westinghouse Electric Company signs a $180mn contract with ITER Organization to complete the final assembly of the vacuum vessel for ITER’s experimental nuclear fusion reactor, currently under construction in Cadarache, southern France.
Google has concluded a historic agreement to purchase 200 megawatts of fusion energy from Commonwealth Fusion Systems, marking the entry of technology giants into the commercial era of this new energy form.
With a major investment of £2.5 billion, London confirms its ambitious nuclear fusion strategy through the STEP project, aiming to build an industrial prototype by 2040 that will generate jobs, innovation, and economic growth.
German company Proxima Fusion, specialized in nuclear fusion, has announced a €130 million funding round aimed at building a stellarator, an alternative technology designed to achieve industrial-scale fusion energy.
The European Commission opens a four-week consultation to define industrial and regulatory priorities for the EU’s first fusion energy strategy, expected by the end of 2025.
nT-Tao hosts the first Israel Fusion Forum to establish a national industrial ecosystem in a global sector valued in the trillions of dollars.
The international ITER project is organising an open day at its nuclear fusion site in the Bouches-du-Rhône, with teams mobilised to showcase the progress of the experimental installation to the public.
CEA and CNRS deploy SupraFusion, a project funded by France 2030, to develop high-temperature superconductors for nuclear fusion and industrial applications.
US-based TAE Technologies claims it has reduced the size, complexity and cost of its fusion devices by validating a new plasma formation method in a next-generation machine.
Marvel Fusion extends its Series B funding to €113 mn with backing from Siemens Energy, EQT Ventures and the European Innovation Council, aiming to build a laser fusion reactor prototype by 2032.
The West Burton site, selected for the prototype STEP fusion plant, is set to generate thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of pounds annually, according to a study commissioned by Nottinghamshire County Council.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed to develop a nuclear fusion power plant using laser technology in Biblis, Hesse, by 2035. The project brings together the regional government, industrial companies, and scientific institutions to structure a fusion energy sector.
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and Italian company Eni announce a partnership to build the world's largest tritium fuel cycle facility. This project, located in England, aims to optimise tritium management for future fusion power plants.
Israeli nuclear fusion pioneer nT-Tao receives $5 million in funding from the Israel Innovation Authority to accelerate the development of its compact fusion demonstrator. This marks the fourth consecutive time the company has received such support.
Industry, academic, and government experts gathered at the IEA CERT thematic workshop to discuss public-private collaboration and funding priorities for the development of fusion energy.
The British company First Light Fusion announces a major strategic shift: it will now focus on commercial partnerships for its amplification technologies, abandoning its nuclear fusion power plant project.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.