Japan launches FAST fusion energy project
By Lizzie Mushangwe and Naomi Scott-Mearns
The Japanese Fusion by Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (FAST) project was officially announced on November 12th 2024. FAST is a private initiative targeting fusion-based electricity generation by the 2030s. FAST will employ a tokamak configuration.
So, what have they done, and why is it significant?
The layout of the FAST project fusion device. ©FAST
What Have They Done?
The FAST project brings together several partners including Kyoto Fusioneering (KF), the University of Tokyo, Nagoya University, Tokamak Energy and General Atomics to design and build a compact, low-aspect-ratio tokamak powered by high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coils, which will generate 50–100 MW of fusion power and achieve 1,000 cumulative hours of full-power operation.
Richard Pearson, Co-founder and Chief Innovator at Kyoto Fusioneering, said of the project: “FAST was launched following the Japanese government’s June 2024 announcement of its ambition to demonstrate electricity production through a fusion power plant by the late 2030s. FAST outlines a proposed pathway for Japan to achieve this milestone using current technology, spearheaded by KF and its partners.”
Why Is It Impressive?
FAST is impressive because it focuses on full-system integration rather than plasma confinement alone. This means addressing complex fusion challenges such as energy conversion and tritium breeding, which are essential for sustained fusion operations.
The FAST Project Office explains: “FAST produces energy and electricity, but it will not be the net-positive energy gain. FAST encompasses the entire fuel cycle, including tritium breeding. A key aspect of FAST is its focus on achieving results using parameters and technologies that are less technically challenging, supported by extensive prior research. This approach allows us to demonstrate the complete process and plant systems—from plasma generation and heat extraction (thermal cycle) to the fuel cycle and electricity generation—on an accelerated timeline.”
Why Is It Important?
The FAST project is important because it aims to tackle critical remaining fusion challenges—challenges which remain unresolved in other fusion projects—to create a clear pathway towards commercially viable fusion power systems.
FAST aims to solve heat extraction and tritium breeding challenges—two critical elements for creating self-sustaining and operational fusion systems.
One major challenge that FAST seeks to overcome is the integration of tritium breeding blankets. FAST is working to establish a closed fuel cycle, ensuring both self-sufficiency and long-term sustainability.
The inclusion of 3-4.5T HTS coils is a pragmatic choice for FAST, enabling higher plasma pressures in a compact, cost-effective design. This approach may not push the limits of magnetic field strength, but it focuses on demonstrating integrated systems efficiently, which could offer valuable insights into cost-effective and scalable fusion development.
The FAST Project Office stated, “FAST is designed as a precursor, focusing on proving essential technologies with foundational parameters. By tackling these challenges, we aim to contribute to the fusion community and support the earlier realisation of fusion energy on a global scale.”
What’s Next?
FAST aims to finalise its conceptual design by 2025, select a site and begin preparations for regulatory approval. Plasma operations are scheduled to begin by 2035, with the ultimate goal of demonstrating electricity generation by the late 2030s.
The project will integrate advanced technologies, including low-activation materials and efficient heat management systems, to create a scalable model for future fusion power plants. FAST does not aim for net-positive energy gain, but its emphasis on system integration provides a critical framework for transitioning fusion energy from experimental research to practical application.