Laser fusion energy company HB11 Energy has signed an agreement with the world’s largest high-power laser infrastructure provider ELI ERIC to develop technology that could advance the $12.5 billion global fusion energy industry.
The story: ‘Sydney nuclear fusion startup HB11 inks deal with European laser giant’ was covered by Capital Brief today. Click here to read full story in pdf.
This brings an Australian company, HB11 Energy, one step closer to becoming the first creator of abundant, safe, and clean energy, and extends its position as one of the most advanced private companies pursuing laser fusion.
The agreement cements a powerful partnership between HB11 Energy and ELI ERIC, a pan-European research infrastructure that provides coordinated access to three world-class laser facilities, aiming to increase its capabilities in R&D.
This collaboration will focus on a coordinated effort in the development and manufacturing of micro-structured laser targets to support experiments conducted at ELI facilities.
Critically, it will establish HB11 Energy as a supplier of micro-structured laser targets required for its laser experiments designed to expand the scientific possibilities of high energy density physics, research for the advancement of fusion and many other applications.
The parties agreed to:
- jointly develop and manufacture high-precision targets for high power laser matter interaction experiments,
- innovate and implement diagnostic tools to analyse and measure plasma properties in laser-matter interaction and fusion-related experiments,
- perform collaborative and proprietary experimental campaigns at ELI Beamlines facility
- support the professional development of early-career scientists and engineers, and
- publish high-quality joint research papers in peer-reviewed journals.
The agreement was signed in the presence of the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, and NSW Minister for Industry and Trade, Anoulack Chanthivong, Jan Rafaj, President of the Czech Confederation of Industry, and David Harding, Executive Director of Business NSW at a Business NSW event to build partnerships between the Czech Republic and Australia.
Cross-border agreements such as these are essential to accelerating the world’s pathway to an abundant and sustainable clean energy future, according to HB11 Energy.
Dr. Warren McKenzie, Managing Director, said: “ELI ERIC has unique laser capabilities that are not available in Australia, and which are essential to advancing fusion into a clean energy technology. ELI ERIC will leverage HB11 Energy’s strength as a supplier of micro-fabricated laser targets and fusion materials that will expand the scientific possibilities of both ELI ERIC and HB11 Energy.
“ELI ERIC’s infrastructure and network of world-leading facilities and talent will provide an opportunity for this Australian startup to lead the world in the future of energy.”
Roman Hvězda, Director of ELI Beamlines facility said, “This agreement with HB11 Energy showcases how ELI ERIC’s facilities can drive scientific progress and foster innovation in the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions and advanced laser technologies.”
