In 1931, Sir Mark Oliphant demonstrated nuclear fusion by splitting the atom.
The South Australian went on to develop radar and discover hydrogen-boron fusion.
A Sydney-based tech company is now continuing the research of Sir Oliphant by developing its own fusion energy technology to safely generate clean energy through the use of high-power lasers.
HB11 Energy is working on commercially-viable fusion energy technology which can be used around the world to safely generate an abundant and permanent supply of clean energy.
This is through the use of boron, a safe, non-radioactive and plentiful element that has a significantly lower environmental impact compared with fossil fuels, nuclear and solar.
Using fuel pellets that are about the size of a pea, HB11 Energy’s solution pulses these once per second, with its laser-boron power plant generating electricity using a conventional steam cycle.
This process creates no radioactive waste and can be deployed around the world thanks to it not being subject to any anti-proliferation controls.
The company is planning to launch its first fusion power plant and is aiming to support the global energy transition and enable a long-term growth in energy consumption in a sustainable manner.
HB11 Energy is a finalist in the InnovationAus 2024 Awards for Excellence in Defence, Dual-use Tech and Space. You can secure your tickets to the black-tie event here. The Defence, Dual-use Tech and Space category is sponsored by Q-CTRL.
The company’s technology is based on theories developed by Professor Heinrich Hora at UNSW Sydney. Professor Hora is a German-Australian theoretical physicist, and he co-founded the company along with material scientist Warren McKenzie.
The company has secured funding through the US Department of Energy’s Innovation Network for Fusion Energy, making it one of the first public-private partnership to be born out of the US government’s decade-long vision for commercial fusion energy.
HB11 Energy also has research collaboration agreements with a number of universities around the world, including UNSW, UTS, Queen’s University Belfast, the Institute of Laser Engineering at Osaka University and the University of Salamanca in Spain.
There is now a global race to build the world’s first fusion power plant, and HB11 Energy is firmly in contention. More than $6 billion in venture capital has poured into about 45 companies that are in this race.
HB11 Energy has a team of 28 staff and collaborators, including four of the 40 recipients of the Edward Teller Medal, which is presented every two years by the American Nuclear Society for “pioneering research and leadership in the use of laser and ion-particle beams to produce unique high-temperature and high-density matter for scientific research and for controlled thermonuclear fusion”.
Looking for brand exposure in front of Australia’s tech ecosystem? Purchase a table of 10 for the InnovationAus 2024 Awards for Excellence and have your logo displayed on screens across the venue and in the event programme as a table sponsor.
The InnovationAus 2024 Awards for Excellence are supported by: Australian Computer Society, Investment NSW, Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Technology Council of Australia, TechnologyOne, National Artificial Intelligence Centre, CSIRO’s ON Innovation Program, Reason Group, Q-CTRL, University of New South Wales, and IP Australia.
Protecting your great ideas with intellectual property (IP) rights can lead to lasting benefits for your growing business. IP refers to creations of the mind, such as a brand, logo, invention, design or artistic work. Head to the IP Australia website to find out more about IP, and how it might help your business.
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