How do we build a world with abundant, affordable, carbon-free electricity?
That’s the question at the heart of Good Clean Energy, a podcast featuring interviews with scientists, innovators and energy experts working to transform the energy ecosystem and tackle climate change.
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Proving FRC fusion stability at scale, with Senior Scientist Roelof Groenewald
For decades, Field-Reversed Configurations (FRCs) have been one of the most attractive opportunities in fusion because of the large power output, but one of the biggest doubts was whether they scale to power plant conditions. Conventional wisdom says the higher the temperature, the less stable plasma would become.
But now according to TAE’s new paper, that roadblock has been cleared.
In this episode, TAE computational physicist Roelof Groenewald shares how he and his team overturned this long-standing assumption. Their research shows that — somewhat paradoxically — FRC plasmas actually become more stable as they heat up. Think of a spinning top or bicycle or basketball spinning on your finger that becomes more stable the faster it spins. This breakthrough, along with TAE’s other enabling technologies, has enormous implications for the future of clean energy.
(00:33) Introduction to plasma physics, FRCs, and the challenge of stability
(01:50) Comparing FRCs to other fusion approaches
(04:22) How FRCs generate their own magnetic fields
(05:45) Plasma beta, efficiency, and why FRCs are special
(06:41) Why not everyone builds FRCs
(07:16) Stability concerns and the tilt problem
(09:19) Rosenbluth’s findings and the challenge of scaling FRCs
(11:07) Correlation between fast and hot, kinetic energy, and particle speed
(12:16) Challenging the old theory with real machines and simulations
(15:10) Proving stability at scale, matching math to reality
(18:09) Introduction to the simulation code and exascale computing
(20:40) Scaling up, confidence in simulation, and future machine design
(21:00) Exploring beam configurations and simulation experiments
(24:06) Overcoming obstacles, commercialization, and Da Vinci prototype
Full show notes: https://tae.com/proving-frc-fusion-stability-at-scale-with-senior-scientist-roelof-groenewald/
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14 Jul 2025
The role of government policy in advancing fusion, with TAE Policy & Global Affairs’ Matthew Lipka
In this episode, Matthew Lipka from TAE’s Policy & Global Affairs team explores how policy is shaping and accelerating the future of fusion energy in the United States. He shares his work educating policymakers on the trade-offs between different energy technologies—and why government leadership is essential to advancing next-generation solutions. Compared to fission, fusion is a cleaner, safer energy source and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has begun adapting its regulatory framework to reflect that lower risk. With rare bipartisan support, fusion is emerging not only as a climate solution, but as a pathway to energy security, economic growth and global leadership.
Full transcript: https://tae.com/the-role-of-government-policy-in-advancing-fusion-with-tae-policy-global-affairs-matthew-lipka/
Listen and Follow 'Good Clean Energy' on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-clean-energy/id1658633508)
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4 Jun 2025
Unlocking the fusion industry supply chain, with Kyoto Fusioneering’s Richard Pearson
Dr. Richard Pearson of Kyoto Fusioneering discusses supplying essential technology components for fusion reactors, focusing on systems that contain, fuel, and extract energy from plasma in this interview.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.8 / 5
20 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 18 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
15
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
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