The Future of Energy - Part 3: Fusion Energy

Have you ever heard of fusion energy? Maybe you have some discussions about futuristic technologies but what if I told you the future is now? What if I told you that additive manufacturing (AM) already plays a significant role in it? Don't believe me? TAE is developing a commercial fusion power source that is compact, cost-effective, capable of sustaining the planet for centuries, and safe in every way. 

In this third and final episode of The Future of Energy mini-series, host Fabian Alefeld speaks with the Chief Marketing Officer at TAE Technologies, Jim McNeil, and Vincent Pilard, TAE’s Senior Mechanical and Project Engineer about their advanced approach to meeting the global energy demand. They discuss how TAE is leveraging all of the benefits of additive manufacturing including the capabilities of design freedom, optimizing existing designs, challenging geometries that allow for a better heat transfer, lightweighting, supply chain optimization, and the reduction of material for sustainability reasons.

Comments about the show or wish to share your AM journey? Contact us at [email protected]. The Additive Snack Podcast is brought to you by EOS.

Key Takeaways:

[1:30] For over 24 years, TAE’s mission has been to create clean, carbon-free, radioactive-free, abundant baseload energy through fusion. 

[3:16] Jim explains the difference between nuclear fusion and nuclear fission and how to TAE plans to create the perfect power source. 

[7:48] Vincent explains the complex process of how fusion creates energy and the fascinating machine TAE will use to harness it.

[15:56] Is fusion technology competitive with other energy technologies such as conventional and renewable?

[16:51] Vincent shares the opportunities made available by working with Additive Minds and the benefits of additive manufacturing for TAE.

[23:10] To meet the global demand for energy, TAE is already preparing for the future using fusion and additive manufacturing as critical parts of the strategy. 

Shareables:

“The perfect example of how AM is such an innovative technology is not even comparable to the impact of the technologies it enables.” — Fabian Alefeld, Host, Additive Snack podcast

“Fusion is nature's preferred energy source.”— Jim McNeil, Chief Marketing Officer at TAE Technologies

“It is amazing to see how Am enables fast proto-typing and design iterations. It is a new approach to design. It gives a lot of agility to engineering to validate concepts.”— Vincent Pilard, Senior Mechanical and Project Engineer, TAE

“When we can provide abundant clean power for all nations, where they don’t have to go to war for resources, and that can change everything.” — Jim McNeil, Chief Marketing Officer at TAE Technologies