The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and US fusion start-up Type One Energy have advanced their collaboration in support of a 350 MWe fusion power plant at TVA’s former Bull Run Fossil Plant near Oak Ridge, Tennessee. TVA issued a Letter of Intent (LOI) to Type One Energy affirming its interest in the potential deployment of Type One Energy’s fusion power plant technology once it is commercially ready.
Infinity Two is a first-generation 350 MWe baseload power plant based on Type One Energy’s stellarator fusion technology. Type One Energy is developing Infinity Two using today’s existing materials and fundamental fusion technologies to support near-term deployment of the technology. The LOI also covers potential future use of the prototype facilities as an operator and maintenance training facility for the Infinity Two workforce.
“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,” said Don Moul, TVA President & CEO. “We are strategically partnering with innovative companies like Type One Energy to advance the development of nuclear technologies, and I am excited about the possibility of the first US commercial stellarator fusion power plant being built in the Tennessee Valley.”
Christofer Mowry, Type One Energy’s CEO noted: “TVA is a best-in-class energy utility that knows how to build, operate, and maintain complex power generation technologies. This LOI with TVA, and the role it establishes for Type One Energy as the fusion technology provider for their Infinity Two project, is therefore fully aligned with our goal of pursuing the lowest-risk approach to commercialising fusion energy.”
Final decisions and definitive agreements regarding the funding and construction of Infinity Two, as well as any agreements to purchase the energy output, are subject to TVA Board approval, regulatory review, and alignment with TVA’s least-cost planning processes and American energy dominance strategy.
Type One leaders told local news media that they hope to start constructing Infinity One, the prototype stellarator, in 2026. Infinity One is designed to verify aspects of the design and serve as a training platform. The Knoxville News reported that TVA’s role as a partner will include development of machining and fabricating some of the components of the stellarator. Don Moul said the collaboration with Type One will be educational. “We have a lot of learning to do. I think that’s the value of being able to have the stellarator here, having our power services shop provide some of the fabrication capabilities and, quite frankly, having some of our staff here help with the operational input with some of the designers so that we make this practical, but also as forward moving as possible.”
