Type One Energy Appoints Former bp CEO Bernard Looney to Board as Fusion Company Advances Commercialization Plans
Type One Energy, a global developer focused on commercializing fusion power technology, has announced the appointment of Bernard Looney to its Board of Directors. The move comes at a critical stage for the company as it accelerates efforts to deliver commercial fusion power to the electricity grid by 2034 and strengthens its position ahead of the planned completion of its Series B funding round.
The appointment of Looney, the former chief executive officer of bp, adds extensive global energy leadership, investment experience, and large-scale project expertise to Type One Energy’s leadership team. His background in managing complex energy operations, international partnerships, and major capital initiatives is expected to support the company as it moves from advanced technology development toward commercial deployment.
Alongside the board appointment, Type One Energy is advancing several major initiatives designed to bring its fusion technology closer to market. The company is preparing procurement activities for its Infinity One prototype project in East Tennessee and recently established the UK Infinity Fusion Consortium, an initiative supported by industrial partners and the United Kingdom government to accelerate fusion development.
“We are delighted to welcome Bernard to our Board of Directors,” said Dr. William Madia, Board Chair of Type One Energy. “His deep experience across global energy markets will bring a valuable perspective as we move towards deploying a fleet of the world’s first commercial fusion power plants.”
Looney brings more than 30 years of experience in the international energy sector. During his career, he held senior leadership roles across the energy industry, including serving as CEO of bp, one of the world’s largest integrated energy companies. His experience includes navigating energy market changes, managing global operations, overseeing major investments, and leading strategies focused on energy transition and sustainability.
Following his executive career, Looney has continued to focus on emerging technologies and the future of energy. He currently supports organizations operating at the intersection of energy, artificial intelligence, finance, and sustainability through various board roles and strategic positions.
“Bernard has led at the highest level of the global energy industry,” said Christofer Mowry, CEO of Type One Energy. “He understands what it takes to move from technology development to deployment, to shape an organization around disciplined execution and operational excellence. His experience and skills will be an incredible asset as we complete our commercialization journey and continue to scale the company.”
Type One Energy is developing a stellarator-based fusion power plant, a technology pathway that the company believes offers one of the most practical routes toward achieving commercial fusion energy. Unlike traditional fusion approaches that rely on short-duration plasma operations, stellarators are designed to maintain stable plasma conditions continuously, creating the potential for reliable, always-on power generation.
The company’s technology development efforts gained significant momentum in 2025 when it received a Letter of Intent and initial commercial agreements from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). These agreements support preparation for the first-of-a-kind deployment of Type One Energy’s Infinity Two fusion power platform at TVA’s Bull Run site in East Tennessee.
The planned Infinity Two facility is expected to have a generating capacity of approximately 400 megawatts (MWe), with construction targeted to begin in 2028. If successful, the project would represent an important milestone in demonstrating the commercial potential of fusion energy and could serve as a model for future fusion power plants worldwide.
Type One Energy is also expanding its international presence through the recently launched UK Infinity Fusion Consortium. The initiative brings together industrial partners and government support in the United Kingdom to explore the development of an Infinity Two fusion power plant project.
The company said the need for new sources of clean, dependable electricity is becoming increasingly urgent as global energy demand continues to rise. The growth of artificial intelligence infrastructure, electrification across industries, and efforts to reduce carbon emissions are expected to significantly increase electricity consumption in coming decades. Meeting this demand will require large-scale deployment of reliable, low-carbon power technologies.
Fusion energy is increasingly viewed as a potential solution because it could provide continuous electricity generation without the carbon emissions associated with conventional fossil fuel-based power plants. Type One Energy believes its stellarator approach can help overcome some of the technical and operational challenges that have historically limited fusion development.
“Fusion will unquestionably be one of the defining energy technologies of this century,” said Bernard Looney. “Type One Energy stands out because it is focused on developing and deploying fusion through a network of industrial partnerships that help derisk and shorten the journey to commercialization. I am delighted to join the Board and support the company at this important inflection point in its journey, with expanding global interest in their technology from customers as well as the capital markets.”
Stellarator technology relies on precisely engineered magnetic fields to control extremely hot fusion plasma. Advances in computing power, artificial intelligence-driven engineering, advanced manufacturing methods, and high-temperature superconducting magnets have helped make the design and construction of next-generation stellarator systems increasingly practical.
Unlike earlier generations of fusion experiments, modern stellarators are benefiting from decades of scientific progress and technological improvements. These developments are helping companies such as Type One Energy pursue the goal of building commercially viable fusion power plants capable of supplying clean and reliable electricity.
With Bernard Looney joining its Board of Directors, Type One Energy aims to strengthen its leadership capabilities as it moves closer to commercial deployment. The company’s focus remains on accelerating fusion innovation, building strategic partnerships, and developing a new generation of power plants that could contribute to the future global energy system.
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