Xcimer Energy Delivers Technical Update to U.S. Energy Sec. Chris Wright and U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans in Denver Laser Bay
- High-level visit, also including Chancellor of Colorado State University System Dr. Tony Frank, comes after Xcimer begins testing of one of the highest-energy KrF lasers in the world
- Xcimer’s prototype laser system, code-named “Phoenix,” will be complete in 2026; project is on-schedule and on-budget
- The leading laser fusion company has also advanced its multistate site search to house Vulcan — a high-yield laser fusion facility expected to demonstrate engineering breakeven in 2031
DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Xcimer Energy Inc. welcomed U.S. Energy Sec. Chris Wright and U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans of Colorado to the company’s Denver laser bay on Monday for a technology briefing and update on its progress to commercialize laser fusion.
Earlier this year, Xcimer completed the first key component of its prototype laser system. Just last week, the company began testing the highest-energy KrF laser built in the 21st century. This laser provides the optical energy to power the “Phoenix” pulse compression prototype, which generates laser pulses with the optical characteristics needed to ignite inertial fusion fuel capsules.
Xcimer’s Phoenix system will be fully complete in H1 2026, Xcimer Energy Co-founder and CEO Conner Galloway said. Phoenix is on-schedule and on-budget, Galloway said in the briefing, also attended by Chancellor of Colorado State University System Dr. Tony Frank.
Xcimer’s goal for 2030 is to complete the construction of Vulcan, its next-generation facility, which will achieve the highest laser energy in the world, up to 12 MJ, using the largest laser amplifiers ever built.
In 2031, Vulcan is expected to achieve engineering breakeven from fusion for the first time. Xcimer’s laser will be the world’s brightest, highest-energy and most powerful laser system, surpassing the French Laser Megajoule and China’s new facility in Mianyang.
“Fusion on our energy grid will unleash America’s full potential and help power the industries of the future,” said Secretary Wright. “Xcimer shows how America’s private sector can build on our nation’s unique public-sector breakthroughs and commercialize them — not just for future generations, but in our lifetimes.”
“Energy dominance is essential for national security and economic strength,” said Rep. Evans, who represents Colorado’s 8th district. “I’m proud of the great work that Xcimer is doing to lead the nation and world in clean and safe nuclear fusion technology.”
Laser fusion: America’s brightest innovation
Laser fusion is America’s brightest innovation — the only scientifically demonstrated fusion approach that’s definitively generated more energy than it takes to produce it.
In 1988, scientists from Livermore and Los Alamos carried out experiments at the Nevada test site which proved inertial fusion can achieve commercially-relevant performance. In December 2022, Lawrence Livermore National Lab’s National Ignition Facility (NIF) achieved scientific breakeven using laser inertial fusion — still the only fusion approach to exceed scientific breakeven.
In 2022, Conner Galloway and Alexander Valys co-founded Xcimer Energy to accelerate America’s lead in laser fusion — and scale it from national labs to commercial energy production. Galloway and Valys studied plasma physics and engineering at Massachusetts Institute for Technology and worked together at Los Alamos National Lab before founding Xcimer.
The company combines the only fusion approach that has been experimentally demonstrated to exceed scientific breakeven (hotspot-ignited laser-inertial fusion) with a novel laser architecture that has significantly lower costs than solid-state laser technology such as that used at the NIF.
Multistate search for Vulcan’s home
The leading laser fusion company employs more than 150 people, mostly in its Denver headquarters. The company also has manufacturing operations in Tucson, Arizona.
Xcimer is conducting a site selection process to house Vulcan, which would directly employ physicists, technicians, and support staff. The team is considering opportunities in the company’s home state of Colorado, as well as in Texas, New Mexico, California, and elsewhere.
Utilities and communities across the country have actively partnered to craft competitive proposals, aiming to win this project. Vulcan’s presence is expected to drive infrastructure investment, workforce development, and attracting cutting-edge industries.
As the world’s highest-energy laser system, Vulcan will be a center of high-tech development around energy, fusion, high-energy science, national security and defense missions. Vulcan’s location could pave the way for a future regional source of zero-carbon energy expertise, making the location attractive to more emerging businesses such as data centers and software companies, robotics manufacturers, medical research facilities, and their support services.
“Fusion is the last new energy source humanity will ever need, the key to a prosperous future,” said Galloway. “The countries, states and counties that take the lead in the global fusion race will disproportionately reap the benefits.”
Read the full news release here.
About Xcimer Energy Inc.
Xcimer combines novel laser technology with proven science to commercialize laser fusion energy. Founded in 2022 and based in Denver, Colorado, Xcimer is backed by the world’s leading climate tech investors and has been selected for funding by the U.S. Department of Energy. Its mission is to develop a source of unlimited, clean, safe and reliable energy to power the future. To learn more, visit https://xcimer.energy/.
Contacts
Xcimer media team:
media@xcimer.energy
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