
Moritz von der Linden
CEO of Marvel Fusion
Emerging energy tech
In this exclusive interview, we are thrilled to welcome Moritz von der Linden, CEO of Marvel Fusion, a pioneering companyat the forefront of fusion energy. With global energy demands and sustainabilitychallenges reaching new heights, Marvel Fusion is breaking new ground in clean energy innovation, exploring laser-driven fusion as a game-changer for carbon-free power generation. Marvel Fusion aims to create energy through laser-driven fusion. Can you elaborate on howthis approach differs from traditional fusion methods, what are the potential advantages it could bring in terms of sustainability and scalability and how you plan to make it commercially viable?
Moritz von der Linden: Our laser-driven fusion technology represents a paradigm shift. In 2022, the National Ignition Facility achieved energy gain in an experiment using a laser-based approach. Now, laser-driven approaches need to show commercial applicability. Specifically, this demands increases in laser efficiency, increases in energy conversion efficiency when transferring laser energy into fuel, and the mass production of the target. Marvel Fusion has developed new ultra-short pulsed, high-intensity laser systems and nanostructured targets. The production methods for the targets stem from the semiconductor industry and are therefore ideal for mass production.
Why would a breakthrough in fusion technology be such a big deal for the entire global energy system?
A breakthrough in fusion energy would fundamentally transform how we produce and consume energy. Fusion offers a virtually limitless, clean energy source without the long-lived radioactive waste associated with fission. It could replace fossil fuels entirely, enabling deep decarbonisation of the global energy system. Fusion energy would keep Europe a highly attractive industrial site and overcome its current energy crisis. The energy demand will continue to rise, and the expected AI superclusters demand a tremendous baseload of green energy. Fusion will power the AI revolution.
Fusion energy could be transformative for the global energy market. How does Marvel Fusion envision its role within the existing energy landscape and what are your next steps to make fusion energy happen?
Marvel Fusion envisions its technology as a complement to renewable energy, addressing intermittency issues and providing baseload power. By integrating into existing grids, our modular reactors can serve industrial clients, data centers, and regions requiring high reliability. Our immediate next steps involve testing our laser systems at our demonstration facility, which we are currently building jointly with Colorado State University. There, we will conduct integrated proof-of-concept tests and demonstrate our technology and approach to fusion energy.
What are the biggest technical and regulatory challenges Marvel Fusion faces in bringing its technology to market? Could you share some insight into the company’s roadmap for the next five to ten years?
On the technical side, the challenges include achieving consistent high-energy yields, designing the future power plant, and mass-producing fuel. To overcome these, we partnered, for example, with Siemens Energy, Germany’s most advanced engineering company, and the chemical giant BASF on the target production.
Regulatory challenges revolve around establishing a clear framework for fusion energy, as it is much safer than fission power plants. The USA and the UK already decided to create according regulatory frameworks. The EU needs to catch up and ideally align their frameworks. As a startup we can’t design various power plants that correspond to each different national framework. The more aligned the frameworks are internationally, the faster a rollout of power plants can be.
Fusion energy has been considered a “holy grail” for sustainable power. What steps is Marvel Fusion taking to ensure that its technology is not only commercially successful but also socially responsible, accessible, and beneficial to communities worldwide?
In essence, the race to build fusion power plants must become our highest priority if we are to meet the exploding global demand for clean, reliable energy. The AI revolution is here and it will change the world for everyone—but this promise hinges on our ability to supply a steady flow of green, baseload-capable energy. Especially due to large gigawatt-scale superclusters, it becomes clear that current projections drastically underestimate the world’s coming energy requirements. Simply put, to fully unlock artificial intelligence and ensure equitable access to its gifts, we must invest in the most potent, sustainable solution at our disposal: fusion energy.