# Going Big on Clean Energy with Small Fusion Reactors with Robin Langtry, Co-Founder and CEO of Avalanche Energy

- Show: [Hardware to Save a Planet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet)
- Published: 2024-02-15
- Length: 54m
- Episode: 46
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-02-15-going-big-on-clean-energy-with-small-fusion-reactors-with-robin-langtry-co-found
- Listen: https://podcasts.fame.so/e/v8wkrxk8-robin-langtry-going-big-on-clean-energy

## Summary

Robin Langtry, Co-Founder and CEO of Avalanche Energy, explains the company's strategy of building the world's first fusion microreactor, which is roughly the size of a microwave. He details how his background in aerospace engineering at Blue Origin and New Glenn informed their 'test, fail, fix' approach, allowing them to iterate on hardware every six weeks. Langtry discusses the specific engineering challenges of electrostatic fusion, including achieving high voltages in a vacuum and managing ion beam loading, while outlining a vision for distributed, mass-produced energy units to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-02-15-going-big-on-clean-energy-with-small-fusion-reactors-with-robin-langtry-co-found#t=3) Introduction: Robin Langtry and Avalanche Energy
- [2:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-02-15-going-big-on-clean-energy-with-small-fusion-reactors-with-robin-langtry-co-found#t=128) Langtry's Journey from Blue Origin and New Glenn
- [12:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-02-15-going-big-on-clean-energy-with-small-fusion-reactors-with-robin-langtry-co-found#t=776) Explaining Nuclear Fusion vs. Fission and Q Engineering
- [27:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-02-15-going-big-on-clean-energy-with-small-fusion-reactors-with-robin-langtry-co-found#t=1627) The Strategy of Small, Human-Sized Reactors
- [36:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-02-15-going-big-on-clean-energy-with-small-fusion-reactors-with-robin-langtry-co-found#t=2198) Technical Challenges: High Voltage and Ion Beam Loading
- [43:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-02-15-going-big-on-clean-energy-with-small-fusion-reactors-with-robin-langtry-co-found#t=2582) The Vision of Superabundance and Decarbonization

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Avalanche Energy (company)
- Blue Origin (company)
- New Glenn (product)
- New Shepard (product)
- Commonwealth Fusion Systems (company)
- National Ignition Facility (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Future of Energy - Part 3: Fusion Energy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2022-08-30-the-future-of-energy-part-3-fusion-energy) (Additive Snack)
- [Tough Tech Vets Trailer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tough-tech-vets/2024-11-22-tough-tech-vets-trailer) (Tough Tech Vets)
- [The Fuss About Fusion](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-12-10-the-fuss-about-fusion) (EE Times Current)
- [A blueprint for scalable fusion power](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-05-21-a-blueprint-for-scalable-fusion-power) (Catalyst)
- [Solange Massa (CEO/Founder, Ecoatoms)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-01-07-solange-massa-ceo-founder-ecoatoms) (Just Gonna Send It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-02-15-going-big-on-clean-energy-with-small-fusion-reactors-with-robin-langtry-co-found. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Hardware to Save a Planet.