Proxima Fusion is investing in a critical ingredient for its fusion reactors: superconducting tape. The German fusion startup said it plans to build a €140 million (around £120 million) factory to produce fusion-grade high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tape, securing a key component for its reactor design.
The decision follows a €411 million funding round raised months earlier, which propelled the company into the ranks of the best-funded fusion startups. Proxima intends to use a combination of public and private funding to complete the facility, with the state of Lower Saxony contributing €21 million.
Why superconducting tape matters
Proxima will use HTS tape to generate powerful magnetic fields capable of containing the plasma required to trigger fusion reactions. The technology emerged a little over a decade ago as one of the fundamental breakthroughs that enabled the current generation of fusion power startups. Because it can produce strong magnetic fields at relatively high temperatures, HTS tape allows for smaller and more efficient reactor designs.
The scale of demand is considerable. The startup’s demonstration plant will use 20,000 kilometres of HTS tape, while its planned commercial power plant will require twice that amount.
A supply chain dominated by Asia
Today, the vast majority of HTS tape is manufactured in China and Japan, leaving Western fusion developers reliant on Asian suppliers. By building its own factory, Proxima aims to reduce that dependency and safeguard access to a material central to its ambitions.
Fusion power is expected to consume a large portion of the world’s HTS tape production. Other companies, such as Veir, are also deploying the material to improve the efficiency and power density of data centres. Proxima’s demonstration plant alone will require 20,000 kilometres of the tape, with its commercial facility set to need 40,000 kilometres.
