Press Releases
Fujikura Invests in Starlight Engine Ltd., the Company Driving the FAST Project
Fujikura Ltd. (Representative Director, President and CEO: Naoki Okada) has invested in Starlight Engine Ltd. ("Starlight Engine"), the company promoting the "FAST (Fusion by Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) Project" — a private-sector-led industry-academia collaboration aiming to demonstrate power generation using fusion energy in the 2030s — and pursuing its subsequent commercial deployment in society. We have invested in Starlight Engine (hereinafter referred to as "Starlight Engine").
1. About Starlight Engine Ltd.
Starlight Engine was established in April 2025 as a group company of Kyoto Fusioneering Ltd., a globally recognized fusion energy startup. In addition to overseeing the FAST Project as a whole, the company is advancing a wide range of activities aimed at realizing commercial fusion plants, including technology development, business development, fundraising, site selection, and supply chain construction.
2. What is Fusion Energy?
Fusion energy is the energy released when light atomic nuclei (deuterium and tritium) fuse to form a different nucleus (helium) — the same reaction that powers the sun. It is said that one gram of fuel can generate energy equivalent to burning eight tons of oil.
The fuel can be extracted from seawater, and the power generation process using fusion energy emits no carbon dioxide (CO₂). For these reasons, fusion energy is attracting attention as a solution to environmental issues such as global warming, and is expected to play a vital role in realizing a carbon-neutral society.
3. Purpose of the Investment
Fujikura regards the FAST Project promoted by Starlight Engine as a critical initiative toward the societal implementation of fusion energy. Fujikura's high-temperature superconductors (HTS) *1 is used in the HTS magnets that confine and control the plasma required for fusion energy generation.
By leveraging long-cultivated technology and expertise in HTS, together with its proven track record of supplying wire to fusion energy projects both in Japan and overseas, Fujikura will contribute to advancing the FAST Project through this investment.
Going forward, Fujikura will continue to pursue further innovation aimed at reducing environmental impact and realizing a sustainable energy supply, thereby contributing to the development of society.
※1 Starlight Engine社会社概要
【社名】Starlight Engine株式会社
【所在地】東京都大田区平和島六丁目1番1号 東京流通センター物流ビルA棟 AW1-S
【設立年】2025年4月
【代表者】代表取締役社長CEO 菊地 清貴
【事業内容】フュージョンエネルギープラントの研究・開発・販売等
*1 High-temperature superconducting (HTS) tape
Superconductivity is the phenomenon in which electrical resistance becomes zero below a certain temperature. Low-temperature superconductors, which are metallic superconductors, are typically cooled using liquid helium with a boiling point of −269°C. High-temperature superconductors, which are oxide-based superconductors, can exhibit superconductivity at temperatures as high as that of liquid nitrogen, whose boiling point is −196°C.
Fujikura develops HTS tape. It is manufactured by depositing an oxide superconducting material on a tape-shaped metal substrate, such as a nickel-based alloy, through an intermediate layer while controlling crystal growth. The tape maintains strong performance even in ultra-high magnetic fields. HTS tape is expected to see wider use in next-generation superconducting equipment. Fujikura is expanding its HTS tape production capacity.
