SHANGHAI, (Xinhua) — Shanghai-based fusion startup Energy Singularity announced a major technological breakthrough after its HH70 high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tokamak sustained a steady-state plasma current for 1,337 seconds — a world record for a commercially built nuclear fusion device.
Often referred to as an “artificial sun,” nuclear fusion replicates the energy-producing process of the sun and is widely seen as a promising long-term solution to global energy shortages and carbon emissions.
Established in 2021 as China’s first private fusion company, Energy Singularity completed the HH70 tokamak in June 2024. Since then, the device has carried out 5,755 experiments, with the latest achieving a pulse lasting more than 1,000 seconds.
The company credited the achievement to continuous improvements in its AI-driven plasma control system.
Co-founder Dong Ge said the milestone shows that combining HTS technology with advanced AI control is now technically feasible for engineering applications, which could significantly reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of future fusion power plants.
Dong added that the company aims to make fusion-generated electricity as affordable as — or even cheaper than — conventional thermal power. With over 96 percent locally sourced components and fully independent intellectual property, the HH70 serves as a key research platform.
Energy Singularity is now working on its next-generation HH170 tokamak, with the goal of achieving net energy gain from fusion. Meanwhile, Shanghai is actively developing multiple fusion technologies, including HTS tokamaks and laser fusion, as part of its strategy to become a global hub for fusion innovation.
