TAE shortens device roadmap, prepares for commercial era -Where TAE previously planned for a sixth-generation machine, Copernicus, to follow Norm, the company is now able to move directly into the development of its first of a kind fusion power plant, Da Vinci.

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With its NBI-only approach to plasma formation, Norm has produced such record performance in plasma temperature, FRC stability and machine efficiency that TAE can shorten its roadmap. Where TAE previously planned for a sixth-generation machine, Copernicus, to follow Norm, the company is now able to move directly into the development of its first of a kind fusion power plant, **Da Vinci**.

“When we achieved the NBI-only formation in Norm, we knew it would be transformative for performance, practicality and reactor-readiness of our fusion technology,” says Michl Binderbauer, TAE’s Chief Executive Officer. “What we realized with continued experimentation is that Norm’s performance is putting us exactly where we want to be to begin development of our commercial power plant. Our sixth-generation machine, Copernicus, had been part of our roadmap since TAE’s beginning, but Norm is such a tremendous breakthrough that it renders Copernicus unnecessary – saving us considerable time and cost. We’re thrilled with the momentum Norm’s success has brought to TAE’s cleanest, safest approach to fusion.”

“The demonstration of NBI-only FRC formation resolves a central challenge for beam-driven fusion: how to generate and maintain self-organizing, closed-field plasmas without complicated start-up systems,” says Toshiki Tajima, TAE’s Chief Science Officer. “TAE’s critical innovations in neutral beams, power supplies and real-time active feedback control have paved the way for this breakthrough – not only reducing system complexity and cost but also improving plasma stability and overall reactor performance.”

Norm routinely delivers TAE’s highest plasma performance and is now being upgraded to achieve 100 million degrees Celsius – the highest temperature ever recorded on a steady-state FRC – to validate the operating modes and hardware for TAE’s next-generation reactors. Norm’s strong NBI-only performance further reinforces confidence that TAE has resolved the remaining complexities of FRCs and has materially de-risked its hydrogen-boron power-plant design to deliver commercial fusion by the early 2030s.