Tennessee strengthens its role in fusion energy.
East Tennessee is becoming a key centre for fusion energy research in the United States. A new research facility will help move fusion materials closer to commercial use.
The project brings together Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Type One Energy, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Together, they will build a high heat flux facility to test how materials behave under extreme conditions.
A new high-heat-flux testing facility
The facility will sit at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Bull Run Energy Complex in Clinton. It will focus on one of fusion energy’s biggest challenges, material durability.
Fusion reactors expose components to extreme heat and particle loads. Because of this, researchers must understand how materials perform over long periods. This new facility will recreate those harsh conditions in a controlled environment.
As a result, scientists can test performance, find failure limits, and speed up material qualification for future fusion power plants.
Recreating extreme fusion conditions
The high heat flux system will deliver steady heat loads above 10 megawatts per square metre. This level matches the heat found inside rocket engines and fusion devices.
To achieve this, the facility will use advanced electron beam technology. This approach allows researchers to simulate real fusion conditions with high accuracy.
In turn, this capability will help validate materials for fusion pilot plants and commercial reactors.
A rare national research asset
Once completed, the Bull Run facility will be only the second of its kind in the US. It will also be the most powerful facility of its type in the country.
In addition, it will be the only US facility that combines high heat flux testing with pressurised helium gas cooling. This feature is critical for next-generation fusion systems.
Helium works well as a fusion coolant because it remains stable under radiation and can operate at very high temperatures. Therefore, it plays a central role in advanced reactor designs, including Type One Energy’s Infinity Two concept.
Building on East Tennessee’s fusion ecosystem
The project builds on strong local expertise in fusion science. ORNL contributes decades of experience in fusion materials research and advanced materials testing.
At the same time, the University of Tennessee supports materials design research and workforce training. Type One Energy adds a commercial focus and real-world reactor plans.
The Bull Run site already hosts the Infinity One stellarator testbed. It may also host the first Infinity Two power plant. Together, these projects will turn the area into a full fusion development campus.
Supporting the US fusion roadmap
The new facility fills a key gap identified in the Department of Energy’s Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap. Specifically, it addresses the need for domestic high heat flux testing.
It also complements ORNL’s Materials Plasma Exposure Experiment, which is under construction. While MPEX focuses on plasma material interactions, the HHF facility will focus on extreme heat loads.
Together, they create a complete pathway from lab research to reactor-ready materials.
Project timeline and next steps
Funding comes from the Department of Energy, Type One Energy, and the state of Tennessee. Meanwhile, TVA has begun preparing the Bull Run site.
Project partners are finalising the design and starting procurement. The assembly will follow soon after.
The team expects to complete the facility by the end of 2027. As fusion development accelerates worldwide, this new facility places East Tennessee at the forefront of fusion materials research and brings commercial fusion closer to reality.
