HB11 Energy

Ever-expanding access to energy, mainly from fossil fuels, has driven centuries of exponential growth in our standards of living.

At the same time, our environment is dramatically challenged by climate change and pollution.

We need a solution that addresses both issues. Fusion energy is for the global energy transition.

HB11’s approach to fusion energy balances economics, science and engineering in support of reliable, safe, commercial fusion energy. We understand the right technology is necessary but not sufficient; the right business model is also required to bring fusion to the grid.

Rather than rely on a singular massive laser, we deploy a laser system that combines thousands of commercial lasers to achieve required energy levels. This approach maximizes resiliency while creating energy and cost efficiencies.

We deploy a nanosecond and picosecond two-pulse laser system to achieve Fast Ignition . Focused energy accelerates protons and initiates fusion within a compressed fuel pellet.

In developing Fast Ignition, we stand on the shoulders of decades of progressive research at US, EU, Russian and Japanese national institutions. New capabilities in lasers, computing and materials have made this the most promising and commercially viable approach.

We aim to provide the safest, most permanent and most environmentally-friendly electricity on the grid, at a commercial LCOE.

Our power plant concept works with pulsed power. Hydrogen-Boron fuel pellets are injected and burned at a rate of about 1 per second. The energy released drives a conventional steam cycle generator.

HB11 Energy is developing commercially viable fusion energy technology that can be deployed worldwide. We’re creating solutions that will safely generate the most abundant and permanent supply of clean energy.

Our approach – Proton Fast Ignition – reduces to achievable levels the heat and energy requirements needed to initiate fusion. Using fuel pellets the size of a pea, pulsed once per second, our laser-Boron power plant will generate electricity using a conventional steam cycle.

HB11 Energy’s approach to fusion energy uses arrays of nanosecond and picosecond lasers to compress and ignite a fusion fuel pellet once per second. Energy from fusion is converted to electricity via a conventional steam cycle, supporting the grid with 1GW baseload power

Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, we’re a global team of scientists, engineers, managers and entrepreneurs. We are laser builders, computer modelers and materials scientists. Our physics team includes four winners of the Edward Teller Award for pioneering research in fusion science. From plasma to politics, we’re dedicated to realizing fusion for the global energy transition.

It’s not enough to merely generate energy. A fusion power plant must be absolutely safe and reliable for decades, generating competitively priced wholesale electricity. Our R&D program is guided by the need for practical energy transition technology, so we focus on Laser Boron fusion.

Building on the legacy of our founder, Professor Heinrich Hora, HB11 Energy is advancing the development of non-thermal ignition in Laser Boron Fusion.

Our research focuses on using a highly targeted proton beam to ignite a hot spot in dynamically compressed Boron fuel – leading to a propagating high-gain burn of the fuel – and harnessing the energy released to drive a power plant.