It is what powers the stars. If it can be recreated on Earth, it has the potential to provide nearly limitless energy with zero carbon emissions — and unlike nuclear fission, which powers nuclear plants today, fusion does not leave behind long-lasting radioactive nuclear waste.

Although it seems that the technology is out of reach for decades, the rewards are so great that billions of dollar still flow into the space. On WednesdayBiden White House revealed a vision of fusion investment and noted that “commercial fusion” has the potential to transform the energy sector.

Marvel FusionThe start-up, which was founded in 2019, has been a part of the growing number of companies that have made a wager on commercializing fusion. The German company is pursuing an innovative approach using lasers instead of magnets, and has so far raised raised €60 million ($65.9 million), including a €35 million ($38.5 million) round in February led by Earlybird Venture Capital.

It’s still years — and billions of dollars — away from even building a prototype, but the company is testing the idea using computer models and believes its approach will be more efficient than competing efforts.

Two “religions” exist in the world of fusion startups. Edward MorseCNBC spoke with Professor of Nuclear Engineering at University of California at Berkeley: Magnetic confinement or inertial confinement.

A tokamak is a machine with a circular donut shape that holds plasma together in magnetic confinement. It uses very strong magnets and has the ability to retain the plasma so the fusion reaction can take place. This is the most battle-tested, and it’s being pursued by a variety of start-ups as well as an international collaboration effort in France.

When the inertial fusion confinement is fusion occurs, is compressed so intenselyAnd it does so fast that it can reach the necessary conditions for fusion. Practically, lasers are usedTo compress the fuel.

Sehila M. Gonzalez de Vicente says that the Tokamak concept, which is based upon magnetic confinement, “is the most advanced and efficient fusion device.” nuclear fusion physicist at the International Atomic Energy AgencyCNBC.

She stated that “Nevertheless, laser-based approaches also offer a promising approach.”

Marvel Fusion isn’t the only company working in lasers. Take, for example: HB11, EX-FusionAnd Focused EnergyHolland stated that other Fusion Industry Association members are working with lasers and is also a member of Fusion Industry Association.

Scientists made a major step in the field of laser fusion science by launching a National Ignition Facility in Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, California in August. A lead scientist from the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California called it a “leading science experiment”. “Wright Brothers moment” for the industryA laser light focused on a target about the same size as a BB generated enormous amounts of energy.

Moritz von der Linden, a co-founder and CEO at Marvel Fusion, says that direct drive is more efficient.

He told CNBC that it takes less energy to burn and ignite fuel than similar thermonuclear models, which rely on high temperatures.

Prior to starting Marvel, Linden worked for 20 years in technology and finance. Linden had previously worked in finance and technology. He collaborated with an physicist for due diligence. They determined that the company they were reviewing was unfeasible. However, that inquiry inspired Linden. Karl-Georg SchlesingerMarvel Fusion to be co-founded

Marvel Fusion’s technology for fusion relies on highly advanced lasers. He claims that the current state of art is twenty years ahead of NIF’s lasers which were used in the initial planning of Marvel Fusion decades ago.

Marvel Fusion also plans to use hydrogen-boron 11 as the fuel source, which results in even less waste than the deuterium-tritium fuel used in more convention fusion reactions. The only product of the primary reaction will be helium nuclei. Marvel Fusion stated that 0.1% of all reactions produce helium nuclei. However, this small number of radioactive radioactive substances is insufficient to create any radioactive waste. (HB11, another fusion start-up(This approach has also been pursued by others.

Marvel Fusion is still in its very early days and has no more than a computer simulation — the money raised so far is not enough to build even a prototype, Linden told CNBC, “not by a longshot.” This will run into billions of dollars. In five to six years, a prototypical power plant and physics facility should be ready.

Professor Morse from Berkeley cautioned it was too soon to know if the startup will succeed.

Morse stated to CNBC that they believed in their own miracles like many fusion start up companies. “That’s what VC money people like – something that’s radical enough, it just might work. They might even make 100x their money. They’ve also got 99 more pots. Somebody is bound to think of something. Other 99 people won’t.