U.S. Fusion Roadmap Targets Early Power Plant Deployment by Mid-2030s

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently released the "Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap," proposing to accelerate the deployment of early fusion power plants by the mid-2030s. The roadmap represents a key federal-level arrangement to advance fusion technology from experimental research toward engineering and commercialization, coordinated by the Office of Fusion established in November 2025.

Unlike existing nuclear power plants that release energy through fission reactions, fusion devices attempt to fuse light atomic nuclei together, with an energy source principle identical to that of the Sun. Fusion power is regarded as a potential low-carbon energy direction, but the industry remains in the experimental and demonstration stage, with private developers yet to achieve commercial-scale “net energy gain,” meaning the energy produced by fusion reactions exceeds the energy required to initiate and sustain the reaction.

The roadmap outlines three priority tasks: building critical infrastructure to close gaps in fusion materials and technologies; promoting open sharing of artificial intelligence, advanced computing, and research facilities to accelerate technological innovation; and expanding the supply chain and workforce through public-private partnerships. The document also sets short-, medium-, and long-term milestones focused on key areas such as structural materials, plasma-facing components, and fuel processing technologies.

Currently, 28 fusion companies in the United States are engaged in related technology development. Most companies pursue the tokamak or stellarator approach, confining ultra-high-temperature plasma with strong magnetic fields; others are exploring laser-driven inertial confinement fusion and other concepts. Industry insiders note that although different technical routes feature different device configurations, they generally face similar challenges, including tritium fuel separation and reprocessing, as well as manufacturing components capable of withstanding long-term high-energy neutron irradiation.

Robb Hughes, Director of External Affairs at Realta Fusion, said the roadmap provides a relatively complete pathway for commercial deployment, but whether the goals can be achieved depends on the level of federal funding support. He believes that if investment in key areas falls short, the fusion commercialization timeline could be delayed.

According to data from the Fusion Industry Association, global fusion companies raised $4.48 billion in the 12 months through July 2026, with funding primarily coming from private investors; cumulative funding since 2021 has reached $14.24 billion. The U.S. government primarily supports fusion research through the Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program. Relevant legislation passed in 2022 authorized up to $1.1 billion in appropriations for the program in fiscal year 2027, but Congress ultimately allocated $790 million, below the $805.7 million executed in 2026.

The roadmap also emphasizes advancing research and development through public-private partnerships. Existing DOE programs include the milestone-based Fusion Energy Development Program and the “Innovation Network for Fusion Energy” (INFUSE). Under the milestone program, which has a budget of $415 million from 2022 to 2027, companies receive payments upon achieving predetermined technical milestones. Participating companies include Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), Focused Energy, Realta Fusion, Thea Energy, Tokamak Energy, Type One Energy, Xcimer Energy, and Zap Energy.

The INFUSE program helps private fusion companies directly access the expertise, computational resources, and testing facilities of DOE national laboratories and universities. Developers including Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Type One Energy, Zap Energy, Pacific Fusion, and Realta Fusion have received related support and are collaborating with institutions such as Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.

In January 2025, the DOE also awarded $107 million through the FIRE program to six research coalitions to foster collaboration among national laboratories, universities, and private companies. The Fusion BRIDGE program, launched earlier this year, will co-fund the construction of shared mid- and small-scale experimental facilities.

In the area of digital research and development, the roadmap proposes promoting the use of artificial intelligence, advanced computing, and quantum technologies for fusion engineering. These tools can help developers build digital twins of reactors, stress-test components before manufacturing, and optimize magnetic field control to improve plasma stability. The DOE plans to build an AI fusion digital platform that connects experimental and testing facility data with simulation, digital twin, and engineering tools, thereby shortening the cycle from experiment to design to operation for fusion systems.