The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is advancing plans to transform its retired Bull Run Fossil Plant near Oak Ridge, Tennessee, into a cutting-edge 350 MWe fusion power facility in partnership with US start-up Type One Energy.
The Bull Run site, which TVA retired in December 2023 as part of its commitment to fully phase out coal by 2030, will house the Infinity Two stellarator fusion power plant, marking a pivotal step in replacing fossil generation with clean fusion energy.
This conversion exemplifies the shift from carbon-intensive energy sources to innovative, carbon-free technologies that support stable, reliable baseload power. TVA’s strategic partnership with Type One Energy leverages existing infrastructure and workforce expertise to pioneer the deployment of the first US commercial stellarator fusion plant. The collaboration also aims to use the site for workforce training and component fabrication, boosting local jobs and economic growth.
TVA President Don Moul emphasised the region’s commitment to advanced nuclear tech as a driver of future economic prosperity and energy independence, highlighting fusion’s potential to fuel emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing.
The project illustrates a broader industry push to repurpose retired coal sites for clean energy innovation, supporting grid stability and regional economic revitalisation as the transition to net-zero accelerates.
