Avalanche Energy, a fusion energy startup based in Washington state, announced Wednesday that it has secured a $5.2 million contract under DARPA’s 'Rads to Watts' program. The initiative aims to develop methods for converting high-power nuclear radiation into kilowatt-scale electricity.
Existing nuclear batteries typically generate power by capturing particles emitted during the decay of radioactive isotopes. While these batteries offer an incredibly long lifespan, their power output is generally limited to the microwatt or milliwatt range. In contrast, DARPA is tasking Avalanche with developing a battery that achieves a power density exceeding 10 watts per kilogram.
Avalanche notes that DARPA envisions a new class of batteries weighing only a few kilograms that could provide continuous power to laptop-grade devices for months. Because these units are intended for space and defense applications, they must be exceptionally resilient to extreme environmental conditions.
Moving Toward Micro-Fusion Technology
Avalanche plans to develop solid-state, micro-fabricated batteries that convert alpha particles into electrical energy. The company points out that while alpha particles pose a health risk to humans, the radiation shielding challenges are relatively manageable given that these batteries are intended for deployment in extreme environments like space.
Beyond the battery itself, Avalanche will develop microchips designed to capture radioactive decay. The company states that these 'degradation-resistant' chips will not only serve the current nuclear battery project but will also be directly applicable to its core fusion business.
Avalanche is currently developing a compact fusion reactor called 'Orbitron.' The device is designed to produce between 1 and 100 kilowatts of power, suitable for remote power generation, defense applications, transportation, and energy needs for lunar bases. While this fusion technology is still some time away from practical implementation, Avalanche believes the expertise gained during the battery development process will provide critical support for the realization of its fusion platform.