UK firm presents pathway to commercially viable fusion power

UK-based First Light Fusion (FLF) has introduced a novel approach called Fusion via Low-power Assembly and Rapid Excitation (FLARE), which outlines a commercially viable pathway to nuclear fusion energy with a net energy gain of 1,000. Unlike conventional inertial fusion energy (IFE) methods that simultaneously compress and heat fuel, FLARE separates these steps by first compressing the fuel using modest energy and then igniting it with an auxiliary source such as a short-pulse laser or pulsed power system. This method reduces energy losses, improves confinement, and employs a liquid lithium pool to absorb neutrons, breed tritium, capture heat, and protect reactor walls without complex solid structures. FLARE’s design leverages low-cost pulsed power technology instead of high-power lasers, simplifying the system and lowering costs. The company claims that achieving a gain of 1,000—far surpassing the current experimental record of four set by the U.S. National Ignition Facility—would make fusion