67th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics Session: DOE Milestone Awardee Physics Basis II Format: ORAL Abstract Time: Nov. 18, 2025, 4:15 PM – Nov. 18, 2025, 4:30 PM The sheared-flow-stabilized (SFS) Z-pinch concept is advancing toward commercialization at Zap Energy through a systematic power plant technology maturation strategy. [1] The SFS Z pinch relies on plasma self-organization which eliminates the need for external confinement or heating technologies. This pulsed, compact magnetic confinement technology could, in turn, provide the basis for a cost-effective deuterium-tritium fusion power plant. [2] In addition to a robust experimental program pushing plasma performance towards breakeven conditions, Zap Energy is developing critical power plant subsystems including high-average-power repetitive pulsed power, high-duty-cycle cathodes, and liquid metal wall systems. Century is Zap Energy's first platform in this maturation strategy integrating these three technologies into an operational system capable of firing SFS Z-pinch plasmas into a liquid-metal-lined container at sustained repetition rates on the order of 0.1 Hz. The pulsed power driver and liquid metal heat extraction are both designed for a nominal average input power of 100 kW. The Century platform generates critical data on manufacturability, operability, reliability, and maintainability—key metrics for assessing future commercial attributes, as well as directly informing design requirements for future integrated plant systems. Results from the first year of operations are described. * This material is based upon work supported in part by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences under Award -Number DE-SC0024886. [1] B. Levitt, E. T. Meier, R. Umstattd, J. R. Barhydt, I. A. M. Datta, C. Liekhus-Schmaltz, D. A. Sutherland, B. A. Nelson; The Zap Energy approach to commercial fusion. Phys. Plasmas 1 September 2023; 30 (9): 090603 [2] M. C. Thompson, B. Levitt, B. A. Nelson & U. Shumlak (2023) Engineering Paradigms for Sheared-Flow-Stabilized Z-Pinch Fusion Energy, Fusion Science and Technology, 79:8, 1051-1058 Presenter: Alex H Cheung (Zap Energy) Author: Alex H Cheung (Zap Energy)