The 'dumb machine' promising a clean energy breakthrough

Francesco Sciortino likens his fusion reactor to a microwave oven compared to the "beast" of competing designs, but his "little cat" might just revolutionize clean energy. Munich-based Proxima Fusion is betting on the stellarator, a twisted, doughnut-shaped device that uses intricate magnetic coils to contain plasma heated to temperatures far exceeding the Sun's core.

While most fusion projects pursue the simpler tokamak design, Sciortino believes stellarators offer superior plasma control once built. The challenge? Creating magnets so complex they rank among the world's most sophisticated, requiring Germany's army of 550,000 skilled machinists to precision-cut expensive steel components.

Proxima recently secured 400 million euros from Bavaria and hopes for over a billion more in federal funding. Their prototype Alpha reactor aims to compress decades of development into just a few years, with a magnet factory under construction to produce components at "crazy, crazy speed" by 2029.

The race extends beyond Germany, as Europe positions itself to lead fusion development after missing the digital revolution.