Israeli startup nT-Tao achieves first plasma in compact fusion reactor

Friday 16 January 2026 - 10:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Israeli startup nT-Tao achieves first plasma in compact fusion reactor

nT-Tao, an Israeli company pioneering compact fusion energy, announced on January 15, 2026, that its C3 prototype successfully produced initial plasma pulses just over two months after assembly began. This milestone marks a significant step toward developing a container-sized reactor capable of generating 10 to 20 megawatts of clean power.

Based in Hod Hasharon, the C3 system builds on the proven performance of its predecessor, C2-A, which reached plasma temperatures around one million degrees Celsius, or about 100 electronvolts, in high-density conditions. The upgraded prototype features refined magnets, pulsed power systems, diagnostics, and overall integration, targeting even higher temperatures and longer confinement times.

The rapid progression from magnetic confinement validation to first plasma underscores the team's agility. Dr. Yoav Shoshani, nT-Tao's director of experiments and diagnostics, highlighted how C3 not only tests designs but accelerates the refinement and validation of fusion hardware. The company's proprietary plasma heating and magnetic confinement techniques aim for plasma densities far exceeding those of rivals, enabling modular units suited for distributed grids, industrial sites, data centers, ships, and remote locations; this contrasts sharply with massive projects like ITER.

nT-Tao has secured $28 million in funding, including a $22 million Series A round led by Delek US and NextGear Ventures, with participation from Honda, OurCrowd, and the Grantham Foundation. In March 2025, it received a $5 million grant from the Israel Innovation Authority, its fourth from the agency, signaling strong governmental backing. Key 2025 achievements included commissioning the proprietary MEGA pulsed power system and publishing plasma stability research in the journal Actuators.

This breakthrough arrives amid surging investor interest in fusion, driven by rising electricity demands from AI and data centers. Global funding for magnetic confinement fusion approaches $30 billion in public and private investments. While competitors like Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Helion Energy pursue larger-scale designs, nT-Tao's compact, container-sized approach positions it for potential commercialization in the 2030s.