Proxima Fusion and Lower Saxony Sign MoU to Build Europe’s First Large-Scale Fusion-Grade HTS Tape Facility
Proxima Fusion, building stellarators to power the future, led by Francesco Sciortino and the team, and the State of Lower Saxony signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to lay the foundations for large-scale industrial production of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tape in Lower Saxony.
The new production site will create skilled jobs and strengthen European supply chains. Around €140 million is planned for the first two project phases through the end of 2029.
HTS Tape: Enabling Compact Fusion Magnets.
High-temperature superconducting (HTS) tape can carry extremely high currents with minimal resistive losses, enabling powerful and compact magnets. In stellarators, these magnets generate the fields needed to confine and control ultra-hot plasma, making HTS a key technology for more compact and potentially cost-effective fusion power plants.
The planned facility in Lower Saxony will be the first of its kind in Germany and Europe, providing HTS manufacturing capacity for Proxima’s Alpha fusion demonstrator and planned Stellaris power plant, while supporting future stellarator production at scale.
The technology could also serve other high-field applications, including power grids, medical imaging and treatment, advanced propulsion and other magnet technologies.
Closing a Strategic Gap in Europe’s Fusion Supply Chain.
HTS tape is currently produced at industrial scale mainly in Asia, leaving a key gap in Europe’s fusion supply chain. Proxima expects to require around 20,000 kilometres of HTS tape for Alpha and another 40,000 kilometres for Stellaris, creating significant demand to support domestic production and lower costs as manufacturing scales.
Proxima plans to finance the facility equally through private and public funding, with the State of Lower Saxony contributing €21 million. The company is also working with international technology partners to bring established HTS manufacturing expertise to Germany.
The plant would strengthen Europe’s fusion supply chain by retaining manufacturing expertise and economic value, reducing dependence on overseas suppliers and supporting a broader industrial base. More than 50 European companies are already part of the Alpha Alliance working to build the fusion supply chain, with HTS tape adding a critical upstream capability.
Olaf Lies, Minister-President of Lower Saxony, said: “We are making Lower Saxony a pioneer in European HTS manufacturing. This will not only support Germany’s ambitious fusion-energy goals, but also bring advanced manufacturing, new economic value, highly skilled jobs and technological expertise to our state, with the potential to generate positive innovation effects across many other industries. Lower Saxony will become, quite literally, a magnet for a new critical technology.”
Dr Francesco Sciortino, co-founder and CEO of Proxima Fusion, said: “HTS tape is one of the critical technologies needed to scale fusion rapidly at an industrial level. Alpha and Stellaris will create the demand required to build this manufacturing expertise locally. Lower Saxony has the industrial base, energy expertise and political determination to turn a supply-chain dependency into an enduring strategic strength for Germany and Europe.”
Falko Mohrs, Minister of Science and Culture, Lower Saxony, said: “Lower Saxony offers excellent conditions for the industries of the future. Our research institutions have particular strengths in key fusion technologies, especially laser physics and photonics. The planned facility demonstrates the importance of collaboration between science and industry in developing new areas of strength for Lower Saxony.”
From Fusion Research to Industrial Value.
The MoU establishes a framework for turning Proxima’s technology needs into a domestic industrial production base. It covers site selection in Lower Saxony, milestone-based funding and support, permitting, and partnerships with companies, municipalities, and research institutions across the state.
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