Some breakthroughs happen overnight. Others are decades in the making. Fusion energy falls squarely into the latter. Fusion happens when two atoms—typically hydrogen—collide, releasing energy. Sounds straightforward? Think again. Physicists have tried to crack the perfect equation for a century: heat hotter than the sun, high enough density, and sustained reaction time. This is all while generating more energy than it takes, known as Q>1.
Progress has been slow, but in recent years, technology has taken big leaps. Advances in machine learning, next-gen engineering, and scientific discoveries have opened the door to a new world of possibilities. With AI enabling real-time plasma control and high-temperature superconducting (HTS) supporting stronger magnetic fields, could fusion’s moment finally be here?
Eastern technology, Western science
For Tom, the turning point was a combination of luck and perseverance. It all started in 2019 in Kumatori, Osaka, during his PhD. “I wanted access to neutrons to produce isotopes for long-life nuclear batteries,” he says. “But in the UK, they were few and far between.” This led him to spend a year working at the Kyoto University Research Reactor. There he met Dr. Mahmoud Bakr—now Astral’s Chief Scientist—who introduced him to a compact fusion reactor technology. It was small enough to fit on a desk, a fraction of the size of most reactors, which were still the size of a double-decker. Back in the UK, Tom combined that compact design with NASA’s latest lattice confinement fusion (LCF) research, published in 2020, to create a Multi-State Fusion (MSF) reactor. “We’ve essentially turned cutting-edge NASA physics into a software-controlled product, simple enough for an employee to run,” Tom says. ”You can plug it into the wall, and it works”.
Astral Systems’ route to market
While most fusion startups talk in timelines that stretch into the 2030s, Astral Systems plans a debut as early as next year. The company is targeting the $15 billion nuclear medicine market first and shooting for the space and power sectors next. By engaging with industry leaders directly rather than aiming for the grid, Tom hopes to accelerate progress. "For fusion to reach mass adoption, it needs to be market-facing and manufactured at a large scale," Tom says, "Industrialisation fuels innovation since competition drives efficiency and cuts costs."
While their efforts have attracted global attention, the team isn't stopping there. Paired with fission, Astral Systems’ MSF technology could drastically reduce nuclear waste. Today, fission reactors leave up to 95% of energy untapped. “As fuels burn, byproducts build up, soaking up neutrons needed to spark a reaction. This means that the fuel needs to be replaced before all the energy is used.” Tom explains, “Fusion makes fission easier, because it allows you to burn through that fuel more efficiently.” Astral’s system could capture up to 80% of previously lost energy. For those using old reactors, that’s a game-changer. “Organisations could run our reactors 24/7, 365 days a year,” Tom says. “That’s a big deal.” In the process, Astral Systems could reduce the lifespan of nuclear waste from 100,000 years to a few hundred.
Not your typical academic
The possibilities are endless, but first, Astral Systems needs to find a way to bring its novel technology to the masses. With a lean team of sixteen and a modest £4.5m in venture funding alongside a cool £2m in revenue to date, it is easier said than done. But Tom isn’t known to steer away from challenges. Despite a PhD in physics and a Forbes 30 Under 30 nod, he says success didn’t always come easily. “In school, I always felt that my mind worked differently than the average person – I had to spend more hours at the library to get the same results," he says, “During my A-levels, I was expected to fail. Instead, I ended up with straight As – and a medal for the biggest turnaround.” That determination has served him well in the business world. "When I worked for Rolls-Royce's nuclear division, I realised that thinking differently could be an asset, "he continues, "it gave me the confidence to pursue ideas that didn’t fit the mold.”
Towards energy abundance
With AI estimated to quadruple energy demand by 2030, Astral Systems’ solution arrives just in time. Fusion holds the potential to offer a limitless clean power source that could drastically reduce carbon impacts. According to Tom, this is not a distant dream but something that could become reality within this lifetime. “We’re entering a new era,” Tom says. “I think we'll look back one day and laugh at how we used to ship oil and gas across oceans.”
If that happens, it could mean a drastic shift in power dynamics as the world shifts from fossil fuels to clean energy sources. Who’d be leading this new world order is yet to be seen. “China is investing heavily in fusion, running with Western-developed science,” Tom says, “Scientists are watching their progress closely”. Looking ahead, Tom expects the unexpected. “Physics isn’t done with us yet,” He concludes, “As physicists, we shouldn’t shy away from areas demarked; ‘Here Be Dragons’. That’s where the next big breakthroughs will come from.”
Karin Killander covers the intersection between technology and climate change. She's a brand-builder who's s worked in tech for over a decade, both in VC and for venture-backed startups. She currently works for Net Zero Insights and runs B2B content studio Momentum.
