Avalanche, a Seattle startup, is planning to open a first-of-its-kind facility for commercial-scale testing of fusion technologies in Eastern Washington. The center, called FusionWERX, is a public-private partnership offering shared resources to universities, companies, and government labs in an effort to support fusion power producers and the sector’s supply chain. It aims to be one of the most advanced private-sector operations for handling tritium, a radioactive hydrogen isotope.
FusionWERX will take over an existing facility in Richland, which is home to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. The building was previously licensed for tritium operations and the new effort’s plans include blanket and shielding test beds, hot cells for handling radioactive materials, and systems for extracting, purifying and recycling tritium.
The site could also be used to produce radioisotopes for medical and space applications.
Robin Langtry, co-founder and CEO of Avalanche, said they’re putting together private and public funding to build out the site, and expect to start construction this summer. Avalanche has raised $50 million to date from investors that include Chris Sacca’s Lowercarbon Capital, Founders Fund, Toyota Ventures, Azolla Ventures and others. It has received $8 million in government grants and contracts and has 50 employees. The startup is looking for customers and partners whose work will compliment Avalanche’s research. The cost for using the facility could be an hourly fee.
Read more: Fusion R&D hub aims to break ground in Eastern Washington