nT-Tao and Mekorot partner to bring compact fusion energy to water infrastructure

nT-Tao’s Tao Energy Box compact fusion system depicted powering a coastal desalination plant, the type of energy-intensive critical infrastructure at the centre of its collaboration with Mekorot

(Image courtesy of nT-Tao)

Israeli compact fusion company nT-Tao and Mekorot, Israel’s national water company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore fusion energy as a power source for critical water and wastewater infrastructure. The agreement includes plans for a dedicated research and development centre and pilot facility, which will serve as the first site to develop and validate nT-Tao’s next-phase fusion systems, including its final core configuration, under real-world infrastructure conditions. For a sector that cannot afford power interruptions, the partnership tests whether compact fusion can deliver reliable baseload power at industrial scale.

Compact fusion targets water infrastructure’s power challenge

Mekorot is Israel’s largest civilian energy consumer. Its power demand accounts for roughly 4% of total state demand, with annual electricity costs approaching NIS 1 billion. Reducing that exposure, limiting price volatility, and securing stable alternative power for both routine and emergency operations are central strategic priorities for the company.

Under the MoU, the two organisations will assess how advanced fusion-based technologies can supply clean, continuous power to water facilities including desalination plants and wastewater treatment sites. The collaboration directly aligns nT-Tao’s compact, modular fusion power system with the operational requirements of national-scale critical infrastructure, where power reliability is non-negotiable. Yossi Yaacoby, VP of Engineering and Innovation at Mekorot, described the partnership as an effort to address the “significant and growing power needs of critical water and wastewater systems.”

Pilot facility to validate fusion systems under real-world conditions

The planned R&D centre will be the first facility designed to test and validate nT-Tao’s next-phase fusion systems, including the company’s final core configuration, against the demands of live infrastructure operation. nT-Tao’s approach centres on rapid engineering cycles, system scalability, and integration into environments where dependable baseload power is essential.

The convergence of compact fusion with water infrastructure also addresses a broader challenge in industrial scaling. As energy-intensive sectors expand and demand rises for both uninterrupted electricity and large volumes of clean water, on-site fusion generation offers a potential pathway to support both without increasing grid stress.

“Water infrastructure represents one of the most demanding and consequential use cases for fusion energy,” said Oded Gour-Lavie, CEO and Co-Founder of nT-Tao. “These systems cannot tolerate interruptions, volatility, or uncertainty in power supply.”

Phased timeline beginning in 2026

The MoU outlines a phased collaboration. Through 2026, the parties will conduct preliminary technical and feasibility assessments toward establishing the dedicated R&D center. In parallel, early-stage technical and business alignment will advance within a Strategic Design Partner framework, shaping a phased pathway toward future deployment of the technology across critical water infrastructure.

The partnership represents a meaningful test of whether compact fusion can move from controlled environments into the operational reality of national infrastructure, where the requirements for continuous, high-density power are among the most demanding in any industrial sector.

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