Tokamak Energy, a UK-based nuclear fusion company, and Japan's Sumitomo Corporation have entered into a collaborative partnership to advance the development, implementation, and scaling-up of commercial fusion energy both in Japan and globally.

The partnership will involve Sumitomo contributing its expertise and investments to a series of joint projects with Tokamak Energy, primarily focused on the scaling-up and industrialization of the global fusion supply chain.

In addition to jointly developing early market entry strategies for Tokamak Energy's fusion technology in Japan and other countries, the ultimate goal for both organizations is to work together in designing, building, and operating fusion power plants at scale.

The collaboration will enable Sumitomo to establish itself as a leading global player in financing, constructing, and operating fusion power plants, while Tokamak Energy will accelerate the commercialization and industrialization of its spherical tokamak devices by the late 2030s.

Both companies will also collaborate on developing a supply chain for other emerging applications of fusion technologies, further enhancing their position in the evolving fusion energy landscape.

Ross Morgan, Tokamak Commercial Director, emphasized the importance of partnerships in accelerating the delivery of commercial fusion energy, highlighting the necessity to transition from fossil fuels to a clean, sustainable, low-cost, and widely available energy source.

Yoshihiko Ichikawa, General Manager of Energy Innovation Initiative at Sumitomo Corporation, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasizing their joint efforts in tackling challenges and fostering innovation to expedite the realization of commercial fusion energy, paving the way towards a sustainable energy future for all.

Based in Oxfordshire, Tokamak Energy envisions deploying commercial fusion power plants in the mid-2030s. To achieve this, their roadmap includes completing ST80-HTS in 2026, showcasing the full potential of high-temperature superconducting magnets, and testing the design of their fusion pilot plant, ST-E1, set to demonstrate the capability of delivering electricity and producing up to 200 MW of net electrical power in the early 2030s.

In their pursuit of progress, Tokamak Energy had previously signed an agreement with Japan's Furukawa Electric to supply specialist high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tape for their ST80-HTS prototype fusion device, marking a significant step forward in fusion technology development. With the collaboration with Sumitomo Corporation, Tokamak Energy is poised to make further strides towards achieving their fusion energy goals.