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What is a fusion pilot plant?
A pilot plant is a smaller machine that carries the gate-adjudication mission before a full commercial unit. The Kronos FPP is a ~0.25 GW-class device at R₀ = 2.7 m.
The pilot plant is a key rung in the scale-up ladder between the G1 testbed and full MetroVolt. See the gate program.
Questions & answers
What is a fusion pilot plant (FPP)?
A pilot plant is an intermediate machine — larger than a physics testbed but smaller than a full commercial unit — used to demonstrate integrated operation and retire remaining risk before scaling up. The Kronos FPP is specified at a major radius of 2.7 m, 5.8 T on axis (29 T peak conductor field), 22 MA plasma current, and roughly 0.25 GW-class fusion power.
What is its job?
It carries the gate-adjudication mission — proving the integrated design at meaningful scale — with an optional post-gate role generating pilot revenue.
How does it relate to the testbed and the commercial unit?
It sits between them: the G1 testbed proves the core physics (confinement, hot-ion, channeling), the FPP proves integrated operation, and the commercial MetroVolt unit (R₀ = 5.75 m) delivers full-scale firm power.