• The UK Government reckons it’ll have a fusion reactor up and running by 2040
  • Beam nabs $2.5m Iridium GO! portable satellite hotspot devices order 
  • BSA and Intellihub team up to roll out Smart Metering services for utilities

 

The UK Government reckons it will have the world’s first fusion reactor operational as early as 2040.

Theoretically, nuclear fusion could produce around four million times as much energy as coal, and this plant will be built on the site of a soon-to-be-decommissioned coal-fired power station.

If they can build it, this would mean virtually infinite clean energy and would “prove the commercial viability of fusion energy to the world,” UK Business Secretary Jacob Rees Mogg told the UK Conservative Party Conference on Monday.

The Government has pledged more than £220 million for the first phase of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) program, which will see the UK Atomic Energy Authority produce a concept design by 2024.

 

Who’s got tech news out today?

BEAM COMMUNICATIONS (ASX:BCC)

The company has received further orders worth over US$1.6 million ($2.5 million) for the manufacturing of Iridium GO! devices from its long-standing partner and leading satellite services company Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM). 

The new order is expected to be delivered in FY24 and Beam expects it to meet strong ongoing demand for portable satellite hotspot devices. 

“The Iridium GO! will continue to be a popular device among users due to its highly portable form factor and attractive price point,” MD Michael Capocchi said.

“Satcom devices also have uniquely long product lifecycles that typically extend for over 10 years. 

“For this reason, Beam makes an enviable return on capital for product innovations that is difficult to match by other consumer electronics firms.” 

 

BSA (ASX:BSA)

BSA has teamed up with Intellihub Australia to roll out Smart Metering utility services across New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia further expanding BSA’s existing Smart Metering business in these key markets. 

“BSA is excited to be delivering advanced metering infrastructure for Intellihub and to be at the forefront of innovative new energy services and solutions at a time when such solutions are more important than ever,” interim CEO Arno Becker says.

The contract is expected to generate more than $5m of revenue for BSA in the first year of the program with ongoing revenues expected.

 

XTEK (ASX:XTE)

XTEK’s technology division has shipped $1.49m of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS) related spare parts to the Aussie Department of Defence. 

The shipment was part of an earlier $4.94m batch of orders announced in March which comprises important spare parts and components for the Army’s fleet of AeroVironment SUAS. 

The company says it will progressively dispatch the remaining orders throughout the course of FY2023. 

 

BCC, BSA and XTE share prices today: