Seattle-based Zap Energy is to investigate the “tantalising” possibility of using its nuclear fusion reactor technology to transition a coal power station from fossil fuels.

With a $1m (€1.02m) grant from the Centralia Coal Transition Board (CCTB) and matching funding of its own, Zap Energy intends to assess the potential for siting its fusion reactor at TransAlta’s Big Hanaford power plant, Washington’s only remaining coal power plant.

A team will undertake a detailed feasibility study, with one goal to determine what parts of the plant’s existing infrastructure and technology might be used by a future fusion plant.

Zap Energy said the initial assessment is that the site is about the right size and that an installation could reuse existing power and cooling infrastructure such as transmission lines and cooling ponds.