What is the Alpha Alliance?

The Alpha Alliance is an industrial and research consortium that Proxima Fusion launched to support delivery of Alpha, its demonstration stellarator. It launched with more than 30 European and international companies and coordinates manufacturing, system integration and supply chains for the project.

What is a stellarator?

A stellarator is a magnetic confinement fusion device. It uses external magnetic coils to shape three-dimensional magnetic fields that confine and stabilise the hot plasma fusion needs.

What are plasma diagnostics?

Plasma diagnostics are the instruments that measure a fusion plasma, and their data supports control of the plasma. The Alpha Alliance lists diagnostics among the capabilities its members contribute.

What is Alpha and what is it designed to do?

Alpha is Proxima Fusion's demonstration stellarator. It is designed to achieve net energy gain for the first time in a stellarator, meaning the plasma produces more power from fusion than the heating systems put in. The Alliance says Alpha is a demonstration device rather than a power plant, built to validate the manufacturing methods, materials and high-performance systems that future stellarator plants will need.

Where will Alpha be built and when will it operate?

Proxima Fusion plans to build Alpha near the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Garching, Germany, with operation expected in the early 2030s.

Who leads Alpha and how is it funded?

Proxima Fusion leads engineering, public procurement processes and construction for Alpha, while the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics leads on plasma physics and scientific direction, according to NEI Magazine. Proxima Fusion, the Free State of Bavaria, the institute and energy utility RWE signed an agreement that positions Alpha as the first step towards the Stellaris power plant. NEI Magazine puts Alpha's cost at an estimated 2 billion euros, and Proxima Fusion's Alliance page says the company has raised over 200 million euros in public and private funding.

Which capabilities and companies does the Alpha Alliance cover?

The Alliance lists member capabilities across superconducting technology, coil manufacturing, power systems, cryogenics, advanced materials, vacuum engineering, diagnostics and precision mechanical structures. Named members include Fujikura and THEVA in high-temperature superconductors, Freemelt in tungsten component manufacturing, Pfeiffer Vacuum in vacuum technology and Next Step Fusion in plasma diagnostics and modelling. Members are based in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Japan, Sweden and the UK.

What does Alpha's net energy gain target mean as a performance benchmark?

The Alliance describes Q as the ratio of power from fusion reactions to power put into heating the plasma. A Q above 1, known as scientific breakeven, means the plasma produces more power from fusion than the heating systems put in. Alpha is designed to achieve that for the first time in a stellarator, and Proxima Fusion expects operation in the early 2030s.

How can suppliers engage with the Alpha Alliance?

The Alliance says it will serve as a forum to share progress, explore procurement opportunities and coordinate joint advocacy. It admits new members selectively, and companies with relevant capabilities can contact the coordination team through the form on the Alliance website. As analytical context, the sources describe memorandums of understanding rather than supply contracts, so commercial terms for any member remain a matter for later agreement.

Next Step Fusion brings plasma diagnostics to Proxima’s Alpha Alliance

Q: What is Next Step Fusion?

Next Step Fusion is a fusion supply chain company founded in 2023 and headquartered in Luxembourg, with a UK office and a distributed team across Europe. Its work spans integrated modelling, plasma diagnostics and control for magnetic confinement devices and future power plants.

Category: Diagnostics, Divertors, Magnets, Stellerator, Superconductors

October 14, 2026

Alpha Alliance and Next Step Fusion logos side by side over a faded technical rendering of a fusion device.

Plasma diagnostics now sit alongside superconducting technology, coil manufacturing and vacuum engineering inside the Alpha Alliance

(Image courtesy of Next Step Fusion)

Next Step Fusion has signed a memorandum of understanding with Proxima Fusion to join the Alpha Alliance, the industrial consortium supporting delivery of the Alpha demonstration stellarator. The Luxembourg-based company will contribute plasma diagnostics, a capability the Alliance lists among member competencies alongside coil manufacturing, cryogenics and vacuum engineering. Members include companies working in superconducting technology and tungsten components, so diagnostics now sit alongside the superconducting and plasma-facing work.

Plasma diagnostics join the Alpha Alliance supply chain

Proxima Fusion launched the Alpha Alliance with more than 30 European and international companies to coordinate manufacturing, system integration and supply chains for Alpha. Members are now based in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Japan, Sweden and the UK, alongside public research partners.

Founded in 2023 and headquartered in Luxembourg, Next Step Fusion has a UK office and a distributed team across Europe. Its work spans integrated modelling, plasma diagnostics and control for magnetic confinement devices and future power plants.

Where plasma diagnostics fit around Alpha

Alpha pairs high-temperature superconducting magnets with a quasi-isodynamic design and aims to demonstrate net energy gain in a stellarator for the first time, in a device built for steady-state operation. Proxima Fusion plans to build it near the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Garching, where the institute leads on plasma physics and scientific direction, with operation expected in the early 2030s.

The Alliance describes Alpha as a demonstration device rather than a power plant, intended to validate the manufacturing methods, materials and high-performance systems that future stellarator plants will need. Next Step Fusion says it will support that work with scientifically grounded diagnostics packaged for deployment in industry.

Alpha as a testbed for power plant diagnostics

Next Step Fusion calls Alpha one of the next-generation magnetic confinement devices it sees as a testbed and demonstrator for critical fusion components, including diagnostics relevant to power plants. The Alliance puts its own purpose as building the supply chains and industrial capabilities that future commercial stellarators, Stellaris included, will need.

For other suppliers, the Alliance says it will serve as a forum to explore procurement opportunities. It admits new members selectively, and companies with relevant capabilities can apply through its website.

Stay ahead in the fusion revolution explore more breakthroughs from leading innovators in clean energy technology.

Next Step Fusion brings plasma diagnostics to Proxima’s Alpha Alliance

Plasma diagnostics join the Alpha Alliance supply chain

Where plasma diagnostics fit around Alpha

Alpha as a testbed for power plant diagnostics

Share this: