Fusion science has made immense progress since its inception 100 years ago, in particular with laser fusion – the first and only approach to reach net-energy-gain.
The next major challenge is to make fusion energy a commercially viable reality. This will include the design of materials that can withstand the extreme environments of fusion reactors and minimise waste from the reactor materials. In HB11 Energy’s case, it will be tailored to our aneutronic fusion power plant, which has significantly less problematic material in terms of the damaging and waste-creating neutrons inherent in other fusion concepts.
Assoc. Prof. Patrick Burr from UNSW is group leader for the ‘Design and Simulations of a Fusion Reaction Chamber’ research group. In Patrick’s words: “The project is at the boundary between nuclear physics, design engineering and materials science. HB11 Energy has demonstrated the enormous potential of quasi-aneutronic fusion energy with hydrogen and boron.
“The near absence of neutrons opens up huge opportunities for simplified reactor design, energy conversion efficiency and waste reduction. Now we need to convert the physics potential into engineering reality.”
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We are hiring!
Here is Assoc. Prof. Patrick Burr’s second of four opening in his research group: Design and Simulations of fusion reactor chamber – a collaboration between HB11 Energy and the UNSW Nuclear Innovation Centre.
Applications for Postdoctoral Research Associate/Senior Research Associate in Fusion Reactor Engineering Design and Simulations close 13 August 2025.
