Zap Energy ramps up the pressure in its latest fusion device

Zap Energy unveiled its latest fusion device, Fuze-3, at a research meeting in Long Beach, California, marking a significant step in its effort to commercialize fusion power. The device achieved a plasma pressure exceeding 232,000 psi (1.6 gigapascals) and temperatures over 21 million degrees Fahrenheit (11.7 million degrees Celsius), setting a record for its sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch fusion approach. This method uses electrodes to pass electricity through plasma, generating a magnetic field that heats and compresses the plasma to induce fusion. While these pressure and temperature figures are promising, they are not directly comparable to other fusion startups due to differing technologies. Achieving high plasma pressure is critical for fusion reactors to reach the "triple product" threshold—combining temperature, pressure, and confinement time—to generate net power. Zap Energy estimates it still needs to increase plasma pressure by at least tenfold to reach scientific breakeven, a milestone few have achieved.