Faraday Factory Japan signed an agreement to deliver superconductor tape for the demo stellarator magnet of Proxima Fusion
TOKYO, June 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Proxima Fusion and Faraday Factory Japan have signed a contract for the supply of high temperature superconducting (HTS) tape. This delivery will help the leading European stellarator developer Proxima Fusion to achieve its next milestone – a superconducting demo magnet.
Stellarators are fusion machines which contain hot, ionized matter (plasma) within a magnetic field of remarkable strength and sophisticated geometry. Significant progress including the highest plasma triple product sustained for tens of seconds was attained recently with the W7-X stellarator, which is built and operated by the Max Planck Institute of Plasma Physics (IPP) in Germany. Proxima Fusion, originally spun out from the IPP, is building on the record-breaking expertise of W7-X, combining it with advances in stellarator optimization, computational design and state-of-the-art HTS magnet technology.
After completing delivering its demo magnet in 2027, Proxima will focus on the delivery of Alpha in 2031, Proxima's net-energy demo stellarator, followed by the first-of-a-kind commercial fusion power plant Stellaris in the 2030s. Timely supply of high-quality HTS tape is essential to keep fusion on fast track. While it takes thousands of kilometers of superconducting tape to build a typical energy-positive fusion prototype, scaling up the fusion industry to commercial power will require millions of kilometers.
Since 2020, Faraday Factory has ramped up production by 10 times. The new HTS tape delivery contract is an important milestone, further strengthening the HTS supply chain for the nascent but transformative fusion industry.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
8 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Iranian negotiator doesn't rule out exiting nuclear treaty if sanctions are reimposed
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — A top Iranian official warned Wednesday that European threats to reimpose sanctions could lead Iran to withdraw from an international pact that limits the spread of nuclear weapons, one of the last remaining safeguards against the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi discussed with reporters his country's recourse against further financial punishment ahead of a critical meeting Friday with Britain, France and Germany. The talks between Iran and some of the remaining members of the 2015 nuclear deal, which the US withdrew from in President Donald Trump's first term, are expected to take place in Istanbul. The three European countries have suggested triggering a so-called snapback provision in that accord that would reimpose sanctions on Iran if there is no progress on a deal to limit its nuclear program by August. The 2015 deal had eased economic penalties on Iran in exchange for restrictions and monitoring of its nuclear program, which Iran has insisted is peaceful. Gharibabadi, who has been part of the nuclear negotiation team, said that despite domestic pressure to withdraw from the separate, older Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, especially in the aftermath of the recent Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear sites, Iran has remained compliant with the 1970 treaty. 'But, I'm quite confident that if the snapback is triggered, Iran will not show more restraint in this regard,' Gharibabadi said. If Iran does exit the treaty, it will be just the second country to do so, after North Korea in 2003, whose withdrawal has never been formally accepted. The warning from Iran comes as the Trump administration is once again seeking to reach a deal with Tehran on its nuclear program. The two sides had held several rounds of talks before Israel staged a surprise attack in June. Iran has indicated an openness to restart negotiations with the US, with Gharibabadi saying Wednesday that 'the sooner, the better.' But he issued a stern warning to the Americans before they engage in a sixth round of talks: Do not use the guise of diplomacy as cover for another military attack on Iran, referencing the scheduled plans for US-Iran talks days before Israel decided to issue its first airstrikes on Tehran. 'Shall we have confidence and trust in the United States again? They should gain the confidence of Iran and come with honesty to the table of negotiations in this regard,' Gharibabadi said. As for talks with the Europeans, Gharibabadi and Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, have remained optimistic that the triggering of sanctions and withdrawal from the treaty can be avoided with 'diplomacy and negotiation.' Gharibabadi said Friday's meeting is very important, but that its success will depend on how the Europeans approach Iran this time around. 'We have always valued our meetings with the European countries. But there is an important issue: I think we have always told them that the policies of the European countries should be independent,' he said. 'They should not coordinate their positions with the Americans.' He added, 'If this is the case, why should we negotiate with the Europeans when we can negotiate with the Americans?' Iranian officials, including Gharibabadi, said they are open to proposals on how to prevent further sanctions and 'prevent a more complicated situation.' In another sign of Iran's willingness, Gharibabadi also shared that a delegation of IAEA technical inspectors is expected to arrive in a 'few weeks,' marking the first time any members of the international inspection team have been allowed back in since the Israel-Iran war. The delegation will not be allowed to visit the nuclear sites, he added, saying that this will be a meeting to discuss what access, if any, Iran will allow the IAEA after what it sees as a betrayal committed against them by the agency's leaders. The IAEA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Korea Herald
9 hours ago
- Korea Herald
US, EU trade talks bolstered by Trump's agreement with Japan
BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The European Union and the US are moving toward a trade deal that could include a 15 percent US baseline tariff on EU goods and possible exemptions, two European diplomats said Wednesday, potentially moving President Donald Trump closer to another major trade agreement on the heels of the one he just unveiled with Japan. European negotiators were hoping to reach an agreement to dodge the 30 percent tariff rate Trump has said he would impose on imports from the 27-nation bloc on August 1. The rate, which could also extend to cars, would mirror the framework agreement the US has struck with Japan, which Trump announced late Tuesday. There could be concessions for sectors like aircraft and lumber as well as some medicines and agricultural products, which would not face tariffs, the diplomats said. Washington does not, however, appear willing to lower its current 50 percent tariff on steel, they said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro told Bloomberg News the report from the EU should be taken with "a grain of salt." As talks continued, the European Commission said it would press on with potential counter-measures in case a deal was not reached. EU member states were set to vote on 93 billion euros of counter-tariffs on US goods on Thursday, European diplomats said. A broad majority of members support using anti-coercion instruments if there is no deal, they said. Trump was aiming to secure an agreement on the heels of a complicated deal reached with Japan, the largest foreign investor in the US That deal included a $550 investment and loan pledges from Japan and its commitment to buy 100 Boeing airplanes and boost purchases of US agricultural products. That investment — to be spent at Trump's discretion — would focus on key industries like energy, semiconductors, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals and shipbuilding, the White House said Wednesday. Tariffs on Japan's auto sector will drop from 27.5 percent to 15 percent as part of the agreement, reviving hopes for similar treatment for European cars. Asian and European stock markets rallied as investors cheered the US-Japan agreement, but US stocks showed a more modest rise and earnings reports were gloomy. American businesses making everything from chips to steel reported downbeat results Wednesday, revealing how the Trump administration's chaotic trade policy has hurt profits, added to costs, upended supply chains and weighed on consumer confidence. US automakers signaled their unhappiness with the Japan deal, raising concerns about a trade regime that cuts tariffs on Japanese auto imports while leaving 25 percent tariffs on imports from their plants and suppliers in Canada and Mexico. "Any deal that charges a lower tariff for Japanese imports with virtually no US content than the tariff imposed on North American-built vehicles with high US content is a bad deal for US industry and US auto workers," said Matt Blunt, the president of the American Automotive Policy Council, which represents General Motors, Ford and Chrysler parent Stellantis. Automobile stocks led the climb of European shares after the Japan deal spurred hopes that the US was budging over tariffs on EU cars. EU officials have previously said Washington has shown little sign of doing so. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Bloomberg Television that Japan received the 15 percent rate on auto tariffs "because they were willing to provide this innovative financing mechanism" that he did not think other countries could replicate. Trump, however, has appeared open to a range of options as the US negotiates trade deals. "I will only lower tariffs if a country agrees to open its market," Trump wrote in a social media post Wednesday. The Republican president said late Tuesday that other countries would be coming to Washington for talks this week. Governments were scrambling to close trade deals before next week's deadline that the White House has repeatedly pushed back under pressure from markets and intense lobbying by industry. US and Chinese officials plan to meet in Stockholm next week to discuss extending an August 12 deadline for negotiating a trade deal. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday would not discuss expectations for the meeting, but said Bessent "looks forward to continuing discussions with his Chinese counterparts."
Korea Herald
10 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Typhoon winds, silent roads: Hyundai Motor reveals future of EV testing
At its Namyang R&D Center, auto giant showcases cutting-edge tests in aerodynamics, sound engineering, extreme weather performance HWASEONG, Gyeonggi Province -- Hyundai Motor Group on Wednesday unveiled its latest electric vehicle innovations at the Namyang R&D Center in Gyeonggi Province, with a focus on breakthroughs in aerodynamics, thermal management and ride comfort. A standout reveal was the 'Aero Challenge car,' a prototype EV designed to achieve world-leading aerodynamic performance. Comparable in size to the Ioniq 6 sedan, the vehicle has already recorded a drag coefficient of 0.144 — beating the previous record of 0.17 set by Mercedes-Benz with its Vision EQXX concept car, introduced in 2022. The drag coefficient measures a vehicle's ability to cut through air, with lower values indicating greater efficiency and driving range. During a demonstration, white smoke traced smooth airflow patterns across the prototype's surface, generated by a massive wind tunnel fan with nine carbon fiber blades, each 8.4 meters in diameter. Blowing at speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour — equivalent to a powerful typhoon — the fan enabled researchers to assess how wind affects the vehicle, including backward drag and lift, using a digital scale installed beneath the car. Key aerodynamic innovations included an Active Cowl Cover and Active Side Blades, which reduce air resistance at the front and rear, respectively. A 3D underbody cover extends across 87.7 percent of the car's underside, slightly more than the Ioniq 6's 86 percent, allowing for smoother airflow and less turbulence. 'Our aerodynamic testing facility is the first and only one of its kind in South Korea and across Hyundai Motor Group's global network,' said a senior researcher from the company's aerodynamics division. 'While the Aero Challenge car still requires design refinements and trunk space improvements before it can be presented as a concept, the data gathered will help improve aerodynamics in future Hyundai and Kia production models.' Hyundai Motor also demonstrated its EV testing under extreme climate conditions, ranging from 60 degrees Celsius down to minus 40 degrees. Notably, the company operates Korea's first facility for testing in heavy snow and rain, a program launched in 2003 under the leadership of former CEO Chung Mong-koo. The facility recreates high-speed rain and snow to evaluate water resistance, including whether moisture enters the vehicle's trunk or charging port. In thermal management, Hyundai Motor has developed the world's first CO2-based heat pump for EVs. Designed to operate in temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius, the system is aimed at the European market, with plans for mass adoption in Hyundai and Kia EVs by 2034. The refrigerant technology is essential for regulating battery temperatures and improving energy efficiency in extreme conditions. Another innovation highlighted at the Namyang facility was Hyundai's data-driven ride performance system. Rather than focusing solely on physical tuning, the company now optimizes parts and systems early in the development process to ensure better driving performance across markets. 'There has been a shift from tuning real vehicles to improving components at the system level,' said Lee Yong-seop, senior researcher in the ride and handling division. 'This helps guarantee consistent performance from the initial stages of development.' Hyundai also uses advanced virtual reality simulations to replicate road conditions in major EV markets such as North America, China and Europe. With support from high-end acoustic systems, researchers test and refine EV performance in terms of ride quality and cabin noise — without having to travel overseas. Hyundai Motor Group's continued R&D investment has translated into global acclaim. Its EV lineup has won the World Car of the Year award for four consecutive years: the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (2022), Ioniq 6 (2023), Kia EV9 (2024) and Kia EV3 (2025).
