HB11 Energy conducts experiment using LFEX and GEKKO Petawatt Laser in Osaka
The first HB11 Energy experiment for 2023 took place in February at Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Japan. The Instutute’s LFEX/GEKKO petawatt laser was used to test the new geometry of laser targets, enabled in part by the fuel fabrication capabilities HB11 has established at Deakin University. Another outcome was to help us to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanism of proton-boron fusion in laser-plasmas and in particular, to study the effects of strong magnetic fields. The LFEX beam was also used to test HB11 fusion reactions within some very… Read More
HB11 Energy features in Undecided with Matt Ferrell: What This Breakthrough Means for Nuclear Fusion
“NIF isn’t the only group experimenting with IC or laser technology… there’s HB11 out of Australia… This take on fusion has a number of advantages. First, hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, while boron-11 is also very common…neither isotope is radioactive… the laser-fired hydrogen also means you don’t need to heat things up to 10-times-the-core-of-the-sun temperatures… Because of the relatively small size of their reactor, HB11’s fusion reactor doesn’t require large plants or big footprint. But perhaps most exciting of all, HB11’s newest laser fusion method also generated 10… Read More
Recent nuclear fusion experiment the biggest scientific breakthrough ‘of the century’
This interview was published in Sky News, 14 December 2022: Recent nuclear fusion experiment the biggest scientific breakthrough ‘of the century’ HB11 Energy’s Managing Director Warren McKenzie has discussed the latest nuclear fusion experiment conducted at the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Nuclear fusion is a process that occurs inside the sun, whereby two nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. This reaction releases energy that can be harnessed to create electricity without contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. The recent experiment at the San Francisco lab used lasers to hit… Read More
US scientists confirm ‘major breakthrough’ in nuclear fusion
This article was published in The Guardian, 14 December 2022: US scientists confirm ‘major breakthrough’ in nuclear fusion Scientists have confirmed a major breakthrough has been made that could pave the way for abundant clean energy in the future after more than half a century of research into nuclear fusion. Researchers at the US National Ignition Facility in California said fusion experiments had released more energy than was pumped in by the lab’s enormous, high-powered lasers, a landmark achievement known as ignition or energy gain. According to Dr Warren McKenzie, founder &… Read More
HB11 Energy creates coalition of global lasertech heavyweights, to establish an Australian sovereign laser industry
Australia’s first laser fusion energy company HB11 Energy has created a coalition of global laser technology heavyweights to kickstart a new Australian laser industry, including by developing an ultra high intensity petawatt-class laser facility on Australian soil. This consortium will see Australia pioneer many new areas of technology, including clean fusion energy generation, sovereign advanced manufacturing capability, and Ultrashort & Short Pulse Laser (USPL) education and talent. It will include, among others, engineering multinational Thales Group, Japan’s first-ever laser fusion company EX-Fusion, the University of Adelaide, long-time global leaders in high-energy laser… Read More
HB11 Energy is featured in Forbes Australia
HB11 Energy’s amazing journey to date and the story of our own 91-year-old theoretical physicist, Prof. Heinrich Hora, is currently one of the lead story in Forbes Australia. It details how Prof. Hora and Co-Founders Warren McKenzie and Jan Kirchhoff believe the company can radically change the future with a high-powered laser and a few protons to create viable nuclear fusion. As reported: “Now, they say, they just need a $100 million laser of their own to prove it, and the Australian government to show some enthusiasm.” Read the full story: Harnessing the… Read More
HB11 Energy conducts experiment at CLPU, University of Salamanca
In November, HB11 Energy conducted an experimental campaign at the Centro de Laseres Pulsados (CLPU) Universidad de Salamanca, Spain. This was performed by a large academic collaboration including our Lead Scientist, Dimitri Batani and by HB11 Energy’s local collaborators Luca Volpe, Marine Huault and Howel Larreur. Taking advantage of the high-repetition rate of their VEGA 3 facility, this experiment scanned a broad range of laser parameters to understand the optimum laser pulse required to create the ideal conditions for fusion. While the analysis of these results is ongoing, we can confirm that… Read More
HB11 Energy conducts experiment at Prague Asterix Laser System (PALS)
It’s been a busy month for HB11 Energy with many of our Science Team at the Prague Asterix Laser System (PALS), Institute of Plasma Physics (IPP) of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The experiment will gain an understanding of the material properties of boron nitride under extreme conditions created by the world’s highest power lasers. This is a key piece of the scientific puzzle required to understand hydrogen-boron fusion, and also provides input for codes to accurately simulate the quantum physics that happens in less than one trillionth of a second after… Read More
HB11 Energy awarded $20M project as part of building the largest recycling and clean energy advanced manufacturing ecosystem in Australia
Australia’s first laser fusion energy company HB11 Energy has been awarded a $20 million project as part of Deakin University’s plans to build “the largest recycling and clean energy advanced manufacturing ecosystem in Australia”. The $20 million project comprises a ~$6 million grant from the $50 million granted to Deakin University through the Federal Government’s Trailblazer Universities Program, plus $14 million in contributions from partners. It will see HB11 Energy work with Deakin’s Recycling and Renewable Energy Commercialisation Hub (REACH) to manufacture hydrogen-boron fusion fuels. Hydrogen-boron reactions could provide large-scale power for… Read More
HB11 Energy invited to speak at International Boron Symposium 2022
With the 2nd International Workshop on Proton-Boron Fusion in Catania now concluded, we look towards the International Boron Symposium (BORON2022), to be held in Istanbul, Turkey from October 5-7, 2022. HB11 Energy’s Financial Director, Jan Kirchhoff, has been invited to speak at the Symposium. Jointly hosted by Turkish Energy and the Nuclear and Mineral Research Agency Boron Research Institute, the main goal of BORON 2022 is to discuss the recent advances in industrial applications of boron and its related compounds, R&D and P&D activities and the strategic usage areas of boron. More… Read More