Skip to main content

Holtec Delivers Critical Component for Revolutionary US Fusion Reactor

Holtec International has achieved a remarkable feat - the fabrication and delivery of the Centre Stack Casing (CSC) for the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory's (PPPL's) National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U), a revolutionary step towards commercial nuclear power based on nuclear fusion. This magnificent piece of engineering represents the heart of the NSTX-U, which is expected to produce high-performance plasma with low-cost magnetic fields.


The Centre Stack Casing for the NSTX-U (Image: Holtec)

The CSC had to be designed and manufactured with extremely precise tolerances to meet the demanding metrology and magnetic permeability requirements. This challenge demanded Holtec's weld engineers to develop and qualify several unique welding procedures and tools that were then implemented by their highly skilled machinists and welders. The final product, which is made of inconel metal and resembles a hedgehog due to its stud-covered design, will provide the inner vacuum wall of the NSTX-U and structural support for plasma-facing components and coils that must withstand temperatures of up to 10 million degrees Celsius.

PPPL Lab Director Steve Cowley describes the CSC as a "beautiful piece of inconel metal" that is "magnificent" and "well-travelled," having been forged in Italy, machined in New Jersey, and assembled in Pittsburgh. Its arrival marks a significant project milestone and will enable important recovery work to begin.

Holtec's Director of Weld Technology, Brian Farnsworth, expresses immense pride in the team's dedication and diligence to produce this critical component. He notes that fabricating something of this caliber required expertise and weldments of the highest quality. "This is a true testament to what Holtec's manufacturing organization can achieve," he adds.

Holtec's Chief Strategy Officer, Fritz Roegge, believes that this project demonstrates the company's ability to leverage its state-of-the-art human and industrial capability to support emerging energy technologies such as fusion and to support US government customers.

The NSTX-U is the flagship fusion facility at the US Department of Energy's PPPL. Unlike conventional tokamaks, the spherical device is shaped more like a cored apple and can produce high-pressure plasmas with relatively low-cost and cost-effective magnetic fields. Its three main objectives are to explore the facility's capability to produce stable, high-performance plasmas with low-cost magnetic fields, to develop the understanding and tools required to start up and sustain such plasmas non-inductively, and to develop techniques to handle and control the waste heat from fusion reactions.

Holtec's remarkable achievement in the fabrication and delivery of the CSC represents a significant step towards a future of clean, safe, and sustainable nuclear fusion energy.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

CTR and Baker Hughes Ignite a 500 MW Geothermal Revolution to Power America’s AI Future”

CTR and Baker Hughes Unite for a 500 MW Geothermal Power Breakthrough: Fueling America’s AI and Data Center Growth By:  Robert Buluma The race to power the digital economy has just taken a bold step forward. Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) and Baker Hughes have entered into definitive agreements to develop 500 megawatts (MW) of baseload geothermal power at the Hell’s Kitchen project in Imperial County, California. This world-scale development is set to become a cornerstone of U.S. energy security delivering clean, reliable, around-the-clock energy to power hyperscale data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure. A New Era of Geothermal Energy America’s digital economy is expanding at an unprecedented rate, driven by explosive growth in AI applications and hyperscale data centers . Unlike intermittent renewables such as solar and wind, geothermal power operates at capacity factors above 98 percent, making it uniquely suited for industries that demand uninterrupted en...

DSSA and FirstGen Forge Landmark 440 MW Geothermal Partnership to Power Indonesia’s Clean Energy Future

Landmark Geothermal Partnership: DSSA and FirstGen Join Forces to Unlock Indonesia’s Renewable Future By:  Robert Buluma In a groundbreaking move for Southeast Asia’s energy transition, PT DSSR Daya Mas Sakti , a subsidiary of PT Dian Swastatika Sentosa Tbk (DSSA) under the Sinar Mas Group , has officially signed a Framework Agreement with PT FirstGen Geothermal Indonesia , a company of First Gen’s subsidiary Energy Development Corporation (EDC) , the Philippines’ largest renewable energy producer. This landmark partnership marks the beginning of a joint venture to develop up to 440 MW of geothermal capacity across six strategically located sites in West Sumatra, Jambi, West Java, East Nusa Tenggara, and Central Sulawesi . With Indonesia being home to one of the largest untapped geothermal resources in the world, this collaboration is set to unlock significant opportunities for sustainable growth and energy independence. A Strategic Step Toward Clean Energy The joint initiati...

First Geothermal Potential Evaluation in Mexico’s Gas Fields: The Comitas Field Case

October 1, 2025 marks a turning point for Mexico’s clean energy journey. For the very first time, researchers have carried out a geothermal potential evaluation within a gas-producing field in the Burgos Basin  an area traditionally known for its prolific hydrocarbon output. By:  Robert Buluma The study, led by Irving Torres Mata and Dr. Rosa María Prol-Ledesma from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), takes a bold step toward reimagining how oil and gas fields can transition into renewable energy hubs. From Gas to Geothermal: The Burgos Basin Advantage The Burgos Basin, located in northeastern Mexico, has long been recognized as an important hydrocarbon province, boasting strong gas production with some wells also yielding condensates. But beneath its oil and gas story lies another: a geothermal gradient between 40°C/km and 70°C/km , which places it firmly on the radar as a geothermal prospect. Thanks to hundreds of deep wells already drilled in the basin ...

Beyond Oil: How Alphaxioms and Aramco Could Redefine Saudi Arabia’s Energy Future

Alphaxioms Calls for a Bold Partnership with Saudi Aramco: Geothermal, Hydrogen, andCCUS for Saudi Arabia’s Energy Future By:  Robert Buluma Saudi Arabia stands at a historic crossroads. With Vision 2030 charting the Kingdom’s transition from oil dependency to a diversified, sustainable economy, the world is watching how energy giants like Saudi Aramco will redefine their role in the global transition. The stakes are high, and the opportunities are even higher. At Alphaxioms, we believe Saudi Arabia has an unprecedented chance to lead the next wave of clean energy innovation—not just in the Middle East, but worldwide. The time has come to tap into solutions that go beyond incremental change. The Energy Challenge The global community is racing toward net-zero emissions, with 2050 as the defining milestone. Nations and corporations alike are under pressure to deliver scalable, low-carbon solutions that maintain energy security while reducing emissions. For Saudi Arabia, this means ha...

GreenFire Energy and Toyo Engineering Partner to Revitalize Geothermal Power Across Asia Pacific

GreenFire Energy and Toyo Engineering Join Forces to Transform Geothermal Projects in Asia Pacific By :  Robert Buluma September 10, 2025 – A groundbreaking partnership has been announced between GreenFire Energy and Toyo Engineering Corporation (TOYO), aimed at advancing next-generation geothermal projects across the Asia Pacific region. The collaboration will initially focus on Japan and Indonesia, two countries with vast untapped geothermal resources, before expanding into North America. Together, the two companies plan to unlock the full potential of existing geothermal fields by introducing innovative, closed-loop geothermal systems. A Leap Forward for Baseload Geothermal Power GreenFire Energy brings to the partnership its patented closed-loop and advanced geothermal systems (AGS). These systems are designed to capture heat and revitalize geothermal wells that conventional methods can no longer efficiently use. By pairing this with TOYO’s engineering, procurement, constructio...

Sage Geosystems patners with Ormat to reshape the future of Geothermal

The geothermal energy sector just witnessed a groundbreaking alliance that could reshape the future of clean power. By:  Robert Buluma   On August 28, 2025 ,  Ormat  Technologies, Inc. , a global leader in geothermal development, announced a strategic commercial agreement with Sage Geosystems  Inc. , a pioneer in next-generation geothermal and energy storage technology. This collaboration is more than just another partnership it’s a bold step into the future of geothermal innovation. Unlocking the Power of Pressure Geothermal At the heart of this agreement lies Sage’s Pressure Geothermal technology , an advanced system designed to extract heat from hot dry rock formations deep beneath the earth. Unlike conventional geothermal methods that rely heavily on water reservoirs, Pressure Geothermal leverages both heat and subsurface pressure unlocking new possibilities for deployment in regions once thought unsuitable for geothermal development. Through this par...
Ormat  Secures 25-Year PPA Extension – Powering Southern California with Geothermal Energy Until 2052 By: Robert Buluma In an era where the world’s energy future hinges on reliability, resilience, and sustainability, Ormat  Technologies has just delivered one of the most significant announcements in the geothermal sector. On August 25, 2025, the Nevada-based geothermal powerhouse confirmed the signing of a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) extension with the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) . This milestone means that the Heber 1 geothermal facility , located in California’s Imperial Valley, will continue delivering 52MW of clean, around-the-clock electricity to millions of Californians until 2052 . For the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) , this deal secures a cornerstone of California’s baseload renewable energy future . A Cornerstone of California’s Clean Energy Transition “This agree...

Revolutionizing Renewable Energy: Texas Paves the Way for Closed-Loop Geothermal Innovation

Pioneering the Future of Geothermal Energy: Texas Leads the Way with Closed-Loop Systems By: Robert Buluma Vallourec's closed loop concept North of Houston, a transformative geothermal initiative is reshaping the energy sector. NOV, a key player in drilling and completions technology, has successfully completed an 11,500-foot closed-loop geothermal test well, marking a significant step forward in renewable energy development. This project highlights the growing potential of closed-loop geothermal (CLG) systems to redefine energy production. Ejen it comes to Geothermal,Innovation and Technology is key and we have seen alot of new findings lately. Unlocking New Possibilities in Geothermal Energy Unlike conventional geothermal systems that rely on naturally occurring underground water sources, CLG technology operates using a sealed system. A specialized heat transfer fluid circulates through a continuous loop, absorbing heat from deep underground rock formations and transporting it to...

Pentagon Expands Geothermal Push to Strengthen Military Energy Security

Pentagon’s Power Play:  DoD Expands Geothermal Push to Fortify U.S. Military Energy Security By:  Robert Buluma In a move that blends cutting-edge clean energy technology with the uncompromising demands of national security, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is ramping up its geothermal initiatives to ensure mission assurance and round-the-clock power for military installations. The stakes are high — with threats from wildfires, extreme weather, cyberattacks, and power shortages looming larger than ever, the Pentagon is betting on geothermal’s resilience to keep bases operational no matter the conditions. A United Front for Energy Resilience Through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) , the DoD is partnering with the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines to de-risk geothermal development and pave the way for full-scale power plant construction on military bases. Six geothermal innovators have been tapped for the mission: Eavor  – Pioneers in closed-loop geotherma...

INTERVIEW, Geretsried and Beyond: Eavor’s Blueprint for Reliable, Sustainable Energy

Robert Buluma :  Alphaxioms Responses were provided by Jeanine Vany, Executive Vice-President of Corporate Affairs, Eavor. Can you explain the key technological advancements in the latest iteration of the Eavor-Loop™ system? We have made a number of technological advancements at our project in Geretsried, Germany. This includes innovation and learning resulting in dramatic improvements in our drilling performance and we’re proud to talk about our technology. For example, Eavor recently announced successful implementation of our in-house AMR (active magnetic ranging) tool which makes drilling more accurate and efficient. Eavor-Link™ AMR uses magnetic ranging while drilling to maintain constant alignment as it drills two wells at approximately 100 metres apart before they are intersected to create a continuous geothermal loop, which is then sealed with Eavor’s proprietary Rock-Pipe™ formula. With real-time data transmission between downhole sensors, the technology ensures tighter bor...