Avalanche thinks the fusion power industry should think smaller

Avalanche, a fusion startup led by co-founder and CEO Robin Langtry, advocates for a smaller-scale approach to nuclear fusion, contrasting with the large reactors or extensive laser arrays commonly envisioned in the industry. Their method uses extremely high-voltage electric currents to confine plasma particles in orbit around an electrode, supplemented by modest magnetic fields, rather than relying on the powerful magnets of tokamaks or laser compression techniques. This compact design, with current reactors only nine centimeters in diameter, enables rapid experimentation and iteration—sometimes twice weekly—accelerating development compared to the slower, costlier testing cycles of larger devices. Inspired by Langtry’s experience at Blue Origin and the “new space” approach popularized by SpaceX, Avalanche aims to scale up their reactor to 25 centimeters, targeting about 1 megawatt of power output and improved plasma confinement time, which is critical for achieving a fusion gain (Q) greater than one, meaning more energy produced than consumed. Avalanche recently raised $29 million