Jerusalem, Israel – January 16, 2026 — JERUSALEM (AP) — Scientists at nT-Tao, a Jerusalem-based fusion energy firm, have marked a significant advance in clean power technology after their C3 prototype sustained plasma confinement for 30 seconds during tests at Carmel Labs on 15 January 2026. This achievement, building on rapid progress from design to operation, positions the company at the forefront of efforts to deliver compact, reliable fusion energy for diverse applications worldwide.
The C3 prototype, successor to the earlier C2-A system, demonstrated enhanced plasma stability at elevated temperatures in the controlled environment of Carmel Labs, nestled in Jerusalem’s vibrant tech ecosystem. Engineers reported that the device maintained confinement far beyond initial pulses, a critical step toward repeatable, high-performance operations. This milestone reflects nT-Tao’s innovative approach, combining proprietary plasma heating techniques with a quasi-symmetric stellarator design that enables high-density pulses in a compact form factor.
Dr Yoav Shoshani, Director of Experiments and Diagnostics at nT-Tao, highlighted the team’s efficiency. “Achieving this level of confinement in such a short development cycle underscores our capacity to iterate swiftly and refine core technologies,” Shoshani stated. The test followed the C3’s first plasma pulses, reached just over two months after assembly, showcasing the firm’s agile engineering prowess.
nT-Tao’s compact fusion systems aim to produce 10 to 20 megawatts of clean, stable power within the footprint of a few shipping containers. Such scalability opens pathways for deployment in data centres, industrial sites, remote communities, shipping ports, and smart cities, where traditional grids often fall short. By focusing on modular, high-aspect-ratio reactors with advanced heating methods like plasma-current torque heating and electron/ion cyclotron resonance heating, the company addresses longstanding barriers to fusion viability, including size, cost, and deployment speed.
Recent peer-reviewed research, co-developed with Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, further bolsters these gains. A novel nonlinear controller, detailed in the journal Actuators, ensures smooth power delivery amid plasma’s rapid fluctuations. This self-calibrating system stabilises resonant energy transfer on microsecond timescales, boosting efficiency and minimising experimental downtime. Natan Schecter, nT-Tao’s Director of Power Electronics, described it as “a foundational element for compact fusion, enabling reliable performance under dynamic conditions.”
Ohad Akler, a lead engineer on the project, emphasised its broader potential. “This control innovation supports high-density, rapid-pulse architectures, paving the way for fusion systems that operate at commercial scales,” Akler noted. Collaborations with leading institutions, including Princeton University and MIT, have refined magnetic chambers and plasma diagnostics, accelerating nT-Tao’s roadmap.
Backing this progress, the Israel Innovation Authority has provided an additional $5 million grant over three years, with an initial $1 million tranche supporting a next-generation compact demonstrator design due within two years. This marks the fourth such award, signalling strong national endorsement. Oded Gour-Lavie, CEO and co-founder alongside Doron Weinfeld and Boaz Weinfeld, views it as validation of their vision. “This support fuels our drive to deliver scalable fusion that transforms energy access, fostering sustainability across urban and off-grid settings,” Gour-Lavie said.
The Carmel Labs test not only validates C3’s capabilities but also hints at near-term advancements. nT-Tao plans more powerful experiments with the upcoming prototype stage, targeting even longer confinement times and higher outputs. These developments promise to empower distributed baseload power, aiding the global shift to decarbonised energy while enhancing energy security for industries and communities.
Local tech leaders in Jerusalem’s Talpiot and surrounding hubs have welcomed the news, seeing it as a catalyst for innovation clusters. Fusion’s inherent safety—lacking meltdown risks or long-lived waste—aligns with goals for resilient, emission-free power. As nT-Tao advances, its work could redefine energy solutions for small islands, edge computing facilities, and heavy industry, bringing limitless clean fuel closer to everyday reality.
This breakthrough at Carmel Labs exemplifies Jerusalem’s role in pioneering fusion’s commercial era, with nT-Tao’s team driving positive change through ingenuity and collaboration. Future tests will build on this foundation, steadily unlocking fusion’s potential to heal the planet and power progress.
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