Fusion is a process that has powered the sun and stars for billions of years. It is the process of joining light atoms together, which is the opposite process of fission (splitting heavy atoms).

Harnessing fusion here on Earth could provide limitless, clean, on-demand power to drive prosperity around the world. But for fusion power to be commercially viable, an approach is needed that combines established science, practical engineering, and affordable manufacturing.

Fusion is safe. The International Atomic Energy Agency provides an excellent resource for information regarding fusion energy and its operational considerations. You can read more here. A few key points are summarized below:

• Fusion is among the most environmentally friendly sources of energy.

• Its two sources of fuel, deuterium (an isotope of hydrogen) and lithium, are widely available on Earth. Lithium is used to produce another hydrogen isotope called tritium, which is used in small amounts and contained in a closed circuit. Tritium is weakly radioactive (a beta emitter) and has a short half-life.

• Fusion systems are inherently safe; they cannot “run away” or melt down.

• Fusion does not create any long-lived radioactive waste.

Pacific Fusion’s Demonstration System is a fusion research device; it is not a power plant. The system is designed to be inherently safe—it uses a highly effective passive water shield to make sure neutrons and intense light resulting from fusion are captured and remain confined to a small area at the center of the system, thus ensuring no radiation can exit the facility. 

There are two key components of permitting for this R&D facility:

• City of Livermore land use approvals (including review under the California Environmental Quality Act) and building permits, as required for all buildings in Livermore.

• Licensing from the State of California Department of Public Health to possess small quantities of radiological material (tritium). A similar license would be obtained by universities or research facilities that conduct scientific or biomedical research. 

Beginning in 2029, Pacific Fusion’s Demonstration System will use small quantities of tritium in a closed circuit (a closed processing loop with no venting). This use case will be licensed with the state. The licensing process requires a validated plan for safe operations, material storage, byproduct waste management, and system decommissioning. The licensing process also includes ensuring safe operations with tritium, which includes monitoring radiation produced during the fusion process.

The Radiological Health Branch of the State of California Department of Public Health controls all aspects of operations of Pacific Fusion’s facility. This includes any byproduct materials as a result of fusion research at the Demonstration System. Small quantities of low-level radiological waste byproducts, such as metal debris that has been activated, will be stored temporarily onsite and disposed of through registered radiological waste brokers as part of the state-regulated waste management program, similar to university and medical facilities that use radiological materials. Tritium is processed in a closed loop and reused.

There are no pathways to releasing radiological materials into the community. Tritium systems are closed loop, and byproduct materials, such as metal debris, are confined and stored on site using state-approved containers and removed using waste management processes.

Deuterium and tritium are stored in gaseous form. 

Deuterium is procured from local gas suppliers and does not have any special handling requirements. 

Tritium will not be used in Pacific Fusion’s Demonstration System until 2029. Tritium is provided by the Department of Energy in approved transportation containers. It is stored as a gas in containers in small licensed boxes and is continuously monitored. Tritium inventory is closely monitored and regularly reported, consistent with the requirements of the radiological licensing process. 

There are no mechanisms to produce noise or vibration during daily operations.