EHL-2 by ENN Group: status and timeline

EHL-2

Advance spherical tokamak design and scaling laws, moving proton-boron fusion closer to commercial viability with aneutronic reactions and minimal radioactive waste.

ProtoStage 2 of 5

Main machine assembly on track for 2027 completion; commissioning to follow. Target plasma current: 3 MA.

Updated 10 Jul 2026Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · EHL-2 main machine assembly

EXL-50U achieves 1 MA plasma current16 Apr 2025Complete.
Ion temperature reaches 50 million K on EXL-50UApr 2025Complete.
EHL-2 main machine assemblyTarget Jun 2027Current milestone.
EHL-2 commissioning beginsTarget 2027Not yet reached.

Most important updates

ENN Fusion secures RMB 10.6 billion pre-A round, valuing division at ~$1.5B10 Jul 2026

Upcoming

2027EHL-2 commissioning begins (next)
Jun 2027EHL-2 main machine assembly

Current obstacles

Reaching sustained p-B11 ignitionProton-boron fusion requires plasma hotter and more densely confined than deuterium-tritium. EHL-2 will test if the spherical design scales well enough.
Plasma stability in compact geometryA smaller tokamak has less margin for instabilities. Control systems must keep plasma stable at higher current density.

Physics limits

Proton-boron cross-sectionThe reaction rate per particle is lower for p-B11 than d-t fusion. Higher temperature and longer confinement times are needed to reach the same reaction rate.
Aspect ratio engineering limitsVery compact tokamaks (low aspect ratio) hit structural limits. Coils must be very close together, and the central column becomes thick and hard to cool.

How it works

3 parts

Plasma Container

Spherical tokamak geometry

Compact donut-shaped magnetic field confines hot plasma. Spherical design (aspect ratio 1.85) is smaller and more efficient than traditional tokamaks.

Fuel

Proton-boron-11 reaction

No radioactive fuel, no neutrons, but requires higher temperatures (30+ keV) and precise confinement.

Confinement

Magnetic field strength and precision

3 Tesla magnetic field holds 100-million-kelvin plasma. Superconducting coils generate the field with minimal energy loss.

Spec sheet

Spec	EHL-2
Target plasma current	3 MA^R (reported)
Major radius (R₀)	1.05 m^R (reported)
Aspect ratio (A)	1.85^R (reported)
Magnetic field (B₀)	3 T^R (reported)
Target ion temperature	30+ keV^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

1 update

Fri 10 Jul

Major: ENN Fusion secures RMB 10.6 billion pre-A round, valuing division at ~$1.5BPressFunding

About ENN Group

The team behind EHL-2

ENN Group

Private fusion, spherical tokamak, aneutronic p-B11

Chinese energy company in natural gas, LNG, solar, energy chemicals. ENN Fusion develops aneutronic proton-boron fusion reactors, first private company in China to join international tokamak physics collaborations.

One of China's largest privately held companies, with operations in natural gas distribution, LNG, solar, and energy chemicals.
The fusion division raised RMB 10.6 billion ($1.5B) in a pre-A round in July 2026, valuing the segment independently.
First private company in China to join international tokamak physics collaborations, second globally after Commonwealth Fusion.

ennresearch.com (opens ennresearch.com)Company profile →

Founded: 199333 yrs
Headquarters: China
Status: Private
Valuation: $9.2BprivateJan 2026
Staff: ~33,742Jan 2023
Raised: $1.5B1 round
Last round: Pre-A (ENN Fusion division) · $1.5BJul 2026
Works in: EnergyFusion
Coverage: 1 program · 2 updateslatest 10 Jul 2026checked 11 Oct
Partners: ITPEA (Tokamak Physics & Engineering) (opens iter.org)
People: Wang Yusuo (opens en.wikipedia.org)Founder

Spec

EHL-2

Target plasma current

3 MA^R (reported)

Major radius (R₀)

1.05 m^R (reported)

Aspect ratio (A)

1.85^R (reported)

Magnetic field (B₀)

3 T^R (reported)

Target ion temperature

30+ keV^R (reported)