NGK Corporation and Kyoto Fusioneering (KF) have formed a strategic partnership to develop and commercialise FLiBe, a molten salt made from lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride, for use in future fusion power plants and demonstration facilities.

The companies aim to establish the technological foundation and supply chain needed to support the commercialisation of fusion energy, a next-generation clean energy source designed to improve energy security while supporting decarbonisation goals.

FLiBe is considered a key material for fusion systems because it can transfer heat from reactors while helping produce tritium, a fuel required for fusion reactions.

However, large-scale deployment requires advanced expertise in beryllium handling, purification, quality control and long-term molten salt circulation systems.

NGK brings more than six decades of experience in beryllium materials, safety management and refining technologies, while KF contributes expertise in fusion engineering, including plant design, thermal systems and tritium technologies.

Under the partnership, KF will lead engineering design for a FLiBe production and refining facility at NGK’s beryllium facility.

 NGK will manage raw material sourcing and operations, while KF will evaluate fusion-grade FLiBe using its FLiBe Research Japan Advanced (FREJA) Loop.

The companies said the collaboration will support the development of a reliable commercial-scale FLiBe supply chain for future fusion power developers worldwide.

Takeshi Otsu, Vice President, Head of NV Business Development, NGK Corporation: “Under our Long-Term Management Plan 2026–2035, NGK has positioned 2035 as the midpoint toward our 'NGK Group Vision: Road to 2050,' and we remain committed to research, development, and societal implementation aimed at future commercialisation in the carbon-neutral space. This strategic partnership with Kyoto Fusioneering is an important step in that direction: by applying NGK's safety management and technical knowhow in beryllium handling, together with our FLiBe-related technology, we are taking on the challenge of creating new technological value that supports the practical realisation of fusion energy in the carbon-neutral field. We will continue to advance technology development toward the societal implementation of FLiBe-related technology and contribute to making fusion energy a reality.”

Kiyoshi Seko, President and COO, Kyoto Fusioneering: “At Kyoto Fusioneering, we are working to establish fundamental technology needed to bring fusion energy into practical use at the earliest possible stage. FLiBe is a critical material in that effort, serving multiple functions — breeding, cooling, and tritium recovery. Because it contains beryllium, handling it safely calls for advanced safety management and refining technology. By combining the beryllium-handling expertise NGK has built over many years with the system-integration knowhow we have accumulated through fusion plant design, we aim to accelerate the industrial foundation for FLiBe-related technology and take an important step toward the societal implementation of fusion energy.” -OGN/TradeArabia News Service