Alameda Point Project Overview & FAQ
● Pacific Fusion Overview
● Alameda Point - Project Overview
● What is fusion?
● Is fusion safe?
● What are the regulatory requirements and permits needed to operate the facility? ● What will the byproducts of this process be, and how will they be controlled, disposed of, and stored?
● How will you assure that nothing is released into the community (storm drains, emissions, etc)?
● How are tritium and deuterium stored and how do you assure safety? ● What are the Demonstration System’s power requirements? How will Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) be affected?
● Are there noise or vibration concerns?
● What benefits does this project bring to Alameda Point?
Pacific F
usion Overview
Pacific Fusion is a company founded in 2023 with the objective to power the world with affordable clean energy.
The company utilizes an approach known as pulsed magnetic inertial fusion, which combines deuterium and tritium atoms to produce helium and release energy.
Here is a brief explanation of how pulsed magnetic fusion works:
● A brief but very large electric current is run across a small metal cylinder (less than half an inch in size) containing fusion fuel.
● The electric current creates a powerful magnetic field that rapidly squeezes the cylinder to reach fusion conditions, releasing large amounts of energy which is then used to generate electricity.
● The process is repeated over and over.
More information about Pacific Fusion can be found at www.pacificfusion.com.
Exhibit 4
1 Alameda Point - Project Overview Pacific Fusion is constructing a one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art fusion research facility. This facility,
known
as
Pacific
Fusion’s
Demonstration
System,
will
demonstrate
that
it
is
possible
to
g
et
more
fusion
energy
output
than
stored
energy
at
the
input—a
fusion
milestone
known
as
net
facility
gain.
Proving
these
conditions
is
an
essential
milestone
to
building
a
power
plant
and
putting
carbon-free
electricity
on
the
grid.
The Demonstration System is not a power plant; it is a fusion research facility. It will not produce
electricity,
and
it
will
be
“pulsed”
about
once
per
day.
Approximately
250
people
would
be
employed
in
this
facility.
The system is designed to be inherently safe—it uses a highly effective passive water shield to make
sure
neutrons
and
intense
light
resulting
from
fusion
a
re
captured
and
remain
confined
to
a
small
area
at
the
center
of
the
system,
thus
ensuring
no
radiation
can
exit
the
facility.
Render of Pacific Fusion’s Demonstration System
Pacific Fusion 2
The above map shows the portion of Site B on Alameda Point that Pacific Fusion is considering.
Below are some common questions associated with fusion energy and Pacific Fusion’s Demonstration
System.
If
you
have
more
questions
about
this
project,
feel
free
to
reach
out
at
alamedacommunity@pacificfusion.com.
Pacific Fusion 3
What is fusion? Fusion is a process that has powered our sun and the stars for billions of years. It is the process
of
joining
light
atoms
together,
which
is
the
opposite
process
of
fission
(splitting
heavy
atoms).
Harnessing fusion here on Earth could provide limitless, clean, on-demand power to drive prosperity
around
the
world.
But
for
fusion
power
to
be
commercially
viable,
we
need
an
approach
that
combines
established
science,
practical
engineering,
and
affordable
manufacturing.
Is fusion safe?
Fusion is safe. The International Atomic Energy Agency provides an excellent resource for information
regarding
fusion
energy
and
its
operational
considerations.
You
can
read
more
here. A few key points are summarized below:
● Fusion is among the most environmentally friendly sources of energy. ● Its two sources of fuel, deuterium (an isotope of hydrogen) and lithium, are widely available
on
Earth.
Lithium
is
used
to
produce
another
hydrogen
isotope
called
tritium,
which
is
used
in
small
amounts
and
contained
in
a
closed
circuit.
Tritium
is
weakly
radioactive
(a
beta
emitter)
and
has
a
short
half-life.
● Fusion systems are inherently safe; they cannot “run away” or melt down. ● Fusion does not create any long-lived radioactive waste.
What are the regulatory requirements and permits needed to operate the facility? Pacific Fusion’s Demonstration System is a fusion research device; it is not a power plant. The system
is
designed
to
be
inherently
safe—it
uses
a
highly
effective
passive
water
shield
to
make
sure
neutrons
and
intense
light
resulting
from
fusion
a
re
captured
and
remain
confined
to
a
small
area
at
the
center
of
the
system,
thus
ensuring
no
radiation
can
exit
the
facility.
There are two key components of permitting for this R&D facility: ● Standard permitting and zoning, which is required in Alameda for any large scale research or manufacturing facility, and ● Licensing from the State of California Department of Public Health to possess small quantities of radiological material (tritium). A similar license would be obtained by universities
or
research
facilities
that
conduct
scientific
or
biomedical
research.
○ Note: The Department of Energy controls the production of tritium for use in fusion research facilities, such as the National Ignition Facility in Livermore, CA and the Z Facility in Albuquerque, NM.
Pacific Fusion 4
Beginning in 2029, Pacific Fusion’s Demonstration System will use small quantities of tritium (approximately
the
amount
found
in
standard
self-luminous
exit
signs)
in
a
closed
circuit
(a
closed
processing
loop
with
no
venting).
This
use
case
will
be
licensed
with
the
state.
The
licensing
process
requires
a
validated
plan
for
safe
operations,
material
storage,
byproduct
waste
management,
and
system
decommissioning.
The
licensing
process
also
includes
ensuring
safe
operations
with
tritium,
which
includes
monitoring
radiation
produced
during
the
fusion
process.
What will the byproducts of this process be, and how will they be controlled, disposed
of,
and
stored?
The Radiological Health Branch of the State of California Department of Public Health controls all aspects of operations of Pacific Fusion’s facility. This includes any byproduct materials as a result
of
fusion
research
at
the
Demonstration
System.
Small
quantities
of
low-level
radiological
waste
byproducts,
such
as
metal
debris
that
has
been
activated,
will
be
stored
temporarily
onsite
and
disposed
of
through
registered
radiological
waste
brokers
as
part
of
the
state-regulated
waste
management
program,
similar
to
university
and
medical
facilities
that
use
radiological
materials.
Tritium
is
processed
in
a
closed
loop
and
reused.
How will you assure that nothing is released into the community (storm drains, emissions,
etc)?
There are no pathways to releasing radiological materials into the community. Tritium systems are
closed
loop,
and
byproduct
materials,
such
as
metal
debris,
are
confined
and
stored
on
site
using
state-approved
containers
and
removed
using
waste
management
processes.
How are tritium and deuterium stored and how do you assure safety? Deuterium and tritium are stored in gaseous form.
Deuterium is procured from local gas suppliers and does not have any special handling requirements.
Tritium will not be used in Pacific Fusion’s Demonstration System until 2029. Tritium is provided
1 by
the
Department
of
Energy
in
approved
transportation
containers.
It
is
stored
as
a
gas
in
containers
in
licensed
glove
boxes
and
is
continuously
monitored.
Tritium
inventory
is
1 Tritium production is controlled by the Department of Energy. Pacific Fusion will begin working with DOE
regarding
sourcing
tritium
to
ensure
it
is
made
available
for
operations
in
2029.
Pacific Fusion 5
closely monitored and regularly reported, consistent with the requirements of the radiological licensing
process.
What are the Demonstration System’s power requirements? How will Alameda Municipal
Power
(AMP)
be
affected?
This facility will be a fusion research facility, not a power plant.
The facility will require roughly 3.3 megawatts (“MW”) of power at peak with an average power draw
most
of
the
time
at
about
half
that
level,
making
it
a
relatively
small
user
of
power
provided
from
AMP.
Are there noise or vibration concerns? There are no mechanisms to produce noise or vibration during daily operations.
What benefits does this project bring to Alameda Point? This project represents a billion-dollar capital investment in Alameda Point, revitalizing largely vacant
land
designated
for
commercial
and
light
industrial
development.
It
will
directly
create
250
jobs
in
Alameda
and
bring
hundreds more jobs to the region.
In addition, Pacific Fusion’s investment in foundational infrastructure would lower the barrier to entry
for
new
businesses
at
Alameda
Point.
This,
in
turn,
would
bring
more
jobs
to
the
community
and
further
increase
professional
and
educational
opportunities
for
local
residents,
including
younger
generations.
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