China's pursuit of clean, limitless energy has reached a pivotal moment with a groundbreaking achievement in Shanghai. Energy Singularity, a pioneering fusion startup, has pushed the boundaries of nuclear fusion research through its innovative HH70 tokamak, earning the nickname "artificial sun" for mimicking the sun's power-generating process. This milestone not only highlights rapid progress in high-temperature superconducting technology but also underscores the vital role of university-trained experts in driving China's fusion ambitions forward.
☀️ Decoding Nuclear Fusion: The Science Behind the Artificial Sun
Nuclear fusion powers the sun by smashing light atomic nuclei together under extreme conditions to release vast energy. Unlike fission, which splits heavy atoms and produces long-lived radioactive waste, fusion fuses hydrogen isotopes like deuterium and tritium into helium, yielding four times more energy per kilogram with minimal byproducts. The challenge lies in sustaining plasma—the superheated, ionized gas state—at temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius while confining it magnetically to prevent contact with reactor walls.
Tokamaks, donut-shaped devices, use powerful magnetic fields to achieve this confinement. Traditional low-temperature superconductors require liquid helium cooling to near absolute zero, making them bulky and costly. High-temperature superconductors (HTS), operating at higher temperatures with liquid nitrogen, promise compact, affordable reactors. China's HH70 represents the world's first fully HTS tokamak, a leap validated by thousands of experiments.
Energy Singularity: A Startup Born from Elite Academic Talent
Founded in 2021 amid Shanghai's COVID lockdowns, Energy Singularity emerged from conversations among top physicists determined to commercialize fusion. CEO Zhao Yang, holding a PhD in theoretical physics from Stanford University (2017), specializes in quantum gravity. Co-founder Ge Dong, with a Princeton PhD in plasma physics (2014), drew inspiration from her mother, a professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), who emphasized clean energy's role in humanity's future. The core team hails from elite institutions like Tsinghua University, Peking University, and SJTU, blending academic rigor with entrepreneurial drive.
Raised nearly RMB 800 million in funding from investors like miHoYo and HongShan, the company leverages AI and high-performance computing (HPC) from NVIDIA for plasma simulations and control, creating digital twins to optimize designs rapidly. Located in Shanghai's Lingang Special Area, it benefits from government support positioning the city as a fusion hub.
The HH70 Tokamak: Technical Specifications and Innovations
HH70 features a major radius of 0.75 meters and minor radius of 0.31 meters, powered by a full HTS magnet system using REBCO tape. Its toroidal magnetic field reaches 0.6 Tesla, with a record 22 Tesla peak field in its D-shaped central solenoid—surpassing global benchmarks. The reactor's localization rate exceeds 96%, showcasing China's supply chain prowess.
- Compact Design: HTS magnets reduce size and cost by 50% compared to traditional ones.
- AI Plasma Control: Real-time optimization sustains high-confinement modes (H-mode).
- Modular Construction: Enables rapid iteration for future scaling.
Since first plasma in June 2024, HH70 has run 5,755 experiments, proving engineering feasibility for steady-state operations.
The Landmark Record: 1,337 Seconds of Steady-State Plasma
In early 2026, HH70 sustained a plasma current for 1,337 seconds (over 22 minutes) in steady-state long-pulse mode—a global record for commercial fusion devices. This surpasses previous private efforts and rivals national labs like EAST in Hefei, which hit 1,066 seconds at higher densities. The achievement demonstrates stable high-confinement plasma, crucial for continuous power generation.Yicai Global reports highlight CEO Zhao Yang's words: "HH70 proves the engineering feasibility of HTS technology, laying the foundation for commercial nuclear fusion."
Photo by Jorick Jing on Unsplash
University Foundations: SJTU and Beyond Fueling Fusion Talent
Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) plays a starring role, with Ge Dong's familial ties and team members from its plasma physics programs. SJTU's Institute of Plasma Physics collaborates on superconducting tech, training PhDs in fusion engineering. Tsinghua and Peking Universities contribute theorists, while USTC in Hefei leads EAST-related research. These institutions produce graduates snapped up by startups like Energy Singularity, bridging academia and industry.
Fusion programs at Chinese universities emphasize interdisciplinary skills: plasma physics, materials science, AI control. Enrollment in related majors has surged 30% since 2020, per government reports, creating a talent pipeline for Shanghai's ecosystem.
China's Fusion Landscape: From EAST to Private Innovation
China's "artificial suns" include state EAST (Hefei, 1,056s at 100M°C in 2025) and private HH70. Shanghai hosts laser fusion at Shanghai Institute of Laser Plasma and tokamaks via startups. The 15th Five-Year Plan prioritizes fusion, targeting hybrid fusion-fission by 2030. Energy Singularity's private model accelerates progress, complementing national labs.
HTS Magnets: Revolutionizing Tokamak Design
HTS magnets operate at 20-77K, vs. 4K for LTS, slashing cryogenic costs. HH70's Jingtian magnet hit 22T, enabling smaller reactors (HH170 aims for Q≥10 by 2028). Step-by-step: fabricate REBCO tapes, wind coils, cool with LN2, integrate AI feedback for stability.
- Cost Reduction: 10x cheaper magnets.
- Size Shrink: ITER-scale power in stadium-sized device.
- Efficiency: Steady-state ops without pulsed fields.
Clean Energy Implications: Shanghai's Path to Singularity
Fusion promises terawatts of carbon-free power, addressing China's 8B-ton CO2 emissions. HH70 paves low-cost electricity (target: coal parity). Shanghai's cluster attracts 50+ firms, boosting GDP via exports.
Careers in Fusion: Opportunities at Chinese Universities and Startups
Fusion boom creates jobs: plasma physicists (avg ¥500k/year), engineers (¥400k), AI specialists. Universities like SJTU offer PhDs with industry placements; Energy Singularity hires 20+ physicists yearly. Explore research positions or faculty roles in plasma science.
Challenges: Scaling to Net Gain
Obstacles: materials enduring neutron flux, tritium breeding, Q>1 sustainment. HH170 targets solutions by 2027, but global competition (CFS SPARC, UK STEP) intensifies.
Global Outlook: China's Fusion Leadership
By 2035, Energy Singularity eyes pilots; universities train next gen. Shanghai's milestone inspires worldwide, positioning China as fusion frontrunner.
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