In recent years, a wave of innovative startups and massive government-backed projects around the world have accelerated progress toward practical fusion power. Billions of dollars in funding have poured into fusion ventures, and several milestone breakthroughs have been reported. Below we highlight some of the top emerging fusion companies (spanning private ventures and public projects globally), their locations, the reactor technologies they’re pursuing, notable collaborations, and recent achievements or funding news. Whether you’re a job seeker eyeing opportunities in this booming sector, an industry professional, or simply curious about fusion, read on for an overview of the leading players driving fusion energy forward.
Location: Devens, Massachusetts, USA (near Boston) (Commonwealth Fusion Systems - Wikipedia).
Approach: High-field tokamak powered by high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets. CFS, an MIT spin-off founded in 2018, is building a compact tokamak called SPARC to demonstrate net fusion energy gain (Commonwealth Fusion Systems Raises $1.8 Billion in Funding to Commercialize Fusion Energy | Commonwealth Fusion Systems) (Commonwealth Fusion Systems - Wikipedia). SPARC’s design leverages decades of tokamak research and novel HTS magnets that can produce ultra-strong magnetic fields, enabling a smaller device to confine super-hot plasma (Commonwealth Fusion Systems Raises $1.8 Billion in Funding to Commercialize Fusion Energy | Commonwealth Fusion Systems) (Commonwealth Fusion Systems Raises $1.8 Billion in Funding to Commercialize Fusion Energy | Commonwealth Fusion Systems). In 2021, CFS (in collaboration with MIT) successfully tested a record-breaking 20-tesla HTS magnet – the most powerful magnet of its kind, and a key technology enabler for SPARC (Commonwealth Fusion Systems - Wikipedia).
Notable Projects & Collaborations: The flagship project is SPARC, on track for first plasma mid-decade, aiming to be the world’s first commercially-relevant net-energy fusion machine (Commonwealth Fusion Systems Raises $1.8 Billion in Funding to Commercialize Fusion Energy | Commonwealth Fusion Systems) (Commonwealth Fusion Systems Raises $1.8 Billion in Funding to Commercialize Fusion Energy | Commonwealth Fusion Systems). CFS is already looking beyond SPARC to a pilot power plant called ARC in the early 2030s (Commonwealth Fusion Systems Raises $1.8 Billion in Funding to Commercialize Fusion Energy | Commonwealth Fusion Systems) (Commonwealth Fusion Systems - Wikipedia). They partner closely with MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center and have engaged national labs via DOE’s INFUSE program (Commonwealth Fusion Systems - Wikipedia). CFS’s new 47-acre campus in Devens will house SPARC and a magnet manufacturing facility (Commonwealth Fusion Systems - Wikipedia).
Recent News: CFS raised over $1.8 billion in Series B funding in late 2021 to construct SPARC and begin work on ARC (Commonwealth Fusion Systems Raises $1.8 Billion in Funding to Commercialize Fusion Energy | Commonwealth Fusion Systems) (Commonwealth Fusion Systems - Wikipedia). Investors include Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Google, and major energy companies, reflecting strong confidence in CFS’s approach. The company now has 800+ employees (as of 2024) (Commonwealth Fusion Systems - Wikipedia) and is rapidly scaling up. If SPARC hits its targets (achieving a burning plasma by ~2025), it will prove that a compact, HTS-magnet tokamak can reach commercially relevant net fusion energy (Commonwealth Fusion Systems Raises $1.8 Billion in Funding to Commercialize Fusion Energy | Commonwealth Fusion Systems) (Commonwealth Fusion Systems Raises $1.8 Billion in Funding to Commercialize Fusion Energy | Commonwealth Fusion Systems) – a milestone on the road to fusion power.
Official Site: cfs.energy (Commonwealth Fusion Systems) – see their technology overview (Commonwealth Fusion Systems - Wikipedia) and the SPARC project page (Commonwealth Fusion Systems Raises $1.8 Billion in Funding to Commercialize Fusion Energy | Commonwealth Fusion Systems) for more details.
(Fusion Energy Milestone from TAE Technologies Validates Path to Cost-Competitive Carbon-Free Baseload Energy Company Raises Additional $280M for Reactor-Scale Demonstration Facility) TAE’s “Norman” device – a beam-driven field-reversed configuration (FRC) reactor – has surpassed 75 million °C plasma temperature in steady state operation (Fusion Energy Milestone from TAE Technologies Validates Path to Cost-Competitive Carbon-Free Baseload Energy Company Raises Additional $280M for Reactor-Scale Demonstration Facility) (Fusion Energy Milestone from TAE Technologies Validates Path to Cost-Competitive Carbon-Free Baseload Energy Company Raises Additional $280M for Reactor-Scale Demonstration Facility).
Location: Foothill Ranch, California, USA (TAE Technologies - Wikipedia).
Approach: Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC) – a cylindrical fusion reactor where plasma is confined by self-generated magnetic fields, augmented by particle beams. TAE (formerly Tri Alpha Energy, founded 1998) specializes in aneutronic fusion, ultimately aiming to fuse hydrogen and boron-11 fuel for clean, no-radioactive-waste energy (TAE Technologies - Wikipedia). Their unique beam-driven FRC design borrows from particle accelerator physics and is optimized for p–¹¹B fusion (TAE Technologies - Wikipedia). TAE has built five generations of machines to date, steadily improving performance (TAE Technologies - Wikipedia). Their current device “Norman” (aka C-2W) has achieved steady plasmas over 75 million °C, 250% of its initial goal (Fusion Energy Milestone from TAE Technologies Validates Path to Cost-Competitive Carbon-Free Baseload Energy Company Raises Additional $280M for Reactor-Scale Demonstration Facility) (Fusion Energy Milestone from TAE Technologies Validates Path to Cost-Competitive Carbon-Free Baseload Energy Company Raises Additional $280M for Reactor-Scale Demonstration Facility). The next machine, “Copernicus,” now under construction in Irvine, CA, will attempt to demonstrate net energy gain from TAE’s FRC approach (Fusion Energy Milestone from TAE Technologies Validates Path to Cost-Competitive Carbon-Free Baseload Energy Company Raises Additional $280M for Reactor-Scale Demonstration Facility).
Notable Projects & Collaborations: TAE collaborates with Google on using AI to control and optimize plasma – an effort that has helped improve stability and performance. In Japan, TAE partnered with the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) and in 2023 demonstrated the world’s first hydrogen-boron fusion reactions in a magnetic confinement device (using NIFS’s Large Helical Device stellarator) (News / National Institute for Fusion Science). This validated the feasibility of p–B fusion reactions in laboratory plasmas – a significant step toward aneutronic fusion. TAE also expanded into adjunct technologies (like spinoff TAE Power Solutions) to support their long-term commercialization plan.
Recent News: In July 2022, TAE raised $250 million (Series G-2), bringing its total funding to $1.2 billion (Fusion Energy Milestone from TAE Technologies Validates Path to Cost-Competitive Carbon-Free Baseload Energy Company Raises Additional $280M for Reactor-Scale Demonstration Facility) (Fusion Energy Milestone from TAE Technologies Validates Path to Cost-Competitive Carbon-Free Baseload Energy Company Raises Additional $280M for Reactor-Scale Demonstration Facility). Investors include Google, Chevron, and Japan’s Sumitomo Corp., underscoring broad industry support (Fusion Energy Milestone from TAE Technologies Validates Path to Cost-Competitive Carbon-Free Baseload Energy Company Raises Additional $280M for Reactor-Scale Demonstration Facility). With these funds, TAE is building Copernicus, a 6th-generation reactor designed to reach net energy by the late 2020s (Fusion Energy Milestone from TAE Technologies Validates Path to Cost-Competitive Carbon-Free Baseload Energy Company Raises Additional $280M for Reactor-Scale Demonstration Facility). The company has published hundreds of peer-reviewed papers and plans to have a prototype power plant by 2030 (TAE Technologies - Wikipedia). TAE’s recent collaboration with Japan’s NIFS yielded a breakthrough demonstration of proton–B¹¹ fusion in 2023 (News / National Institute for Fusion Science), reinforcing their leadership in advanced-fuel fusion research.
Official Site: tae.com – see their press release on exceeding performance goals (Fusion Energy Milestone from TAE Technologies Validates Path to Cost-Competitive Carbon-Free Baseload Energy Company Raises Additional $280M for Reactor-Scale Demonstration Facility) (Fusion Energy Milestone from TAE Technologies Validates Path to Cost-Competitive Carbon-Free Baseload Energy Company Raises Additional $280M for Reactor-Scale Demonstration Facility) and the FAQ for their p–B fusion collaboration (FAQ - TAE Technologies | Fusion Power Clean Energy Company).
(Helion Announces $425M Series F Investment to Scale Commercialized Fusion Power | Helion) Helion’s 7th prototype “Polaris” in operation, generating a pulsed fusion plasma. Helion was the first private company to reach 100 million °C plasma temperature with its prior prototype (Helion Announces $425M Series F Investment to Scale Commercialized Fusion Power | Helion).
Location: Everett, Washington, USA (Helion Announces $425M Series F Investment to Scale Commercialized Fusion Power | Helion).
Approach: Pulsed Fusion with Direct Electricity Recovery – Helion uses an inertial-electrostatic confinement approach merging field-reversed plasmoids. Essentially, two magnetically confined rings of plasma are accelerated and collided, compressing to fusion conditions, and the expanding plasma then induces an electric current that can be directly converted to power. This pulsed, repetitive system eliminates the need for a steam cycle. Helion’s devices are relatively compact linear machines. The sixth prototype “Trenta” was the first privately built machine to exceed 100 million °C ion temperature (achieved in 2021) (Helion Announces $425M Series F Investment to Scale Commercialized Fusion Power | Helion). The latest machine “Polaris,” begun operation in 2023, is expected to be the first to actually produce electricity from fusion (Helion Announces $425M Series F Investment to Scale Commercialized Fusion Power | Helion). Helion’s roadmap targets a 50 MW fusion power demonstration by 2028.
Notable Projects & Collaborations: Helion made headlines by signing a power purchase agreement with Microsoft – committing to provide 50 MW of fusion power to Microsoft’s grid by 2028 (Helion Announces $425M Series F Investment to Scale Commercialized Fusion Power | Helion). This unprecedented deal signals confidence in their timeline. They also announced a partnership with manufacturing company Nucor to develop a 500 MW fusion plant in the 2030s (Helion Announces $425M Series F Investment to Scale Commercialized Fusion Power | Helion). These agreements position Helion as a front-runner in commercial fusion deployment. Helion has built a new five-acre facility in Everett and is planning to site its first commercial fusion power plant in Washington State (Helion Announces $425M Series F Investment to Scale Commercialized Fusion Power | Helion). The company’s technical team has been refining the plasma formation and compression process across successive prototypes, with each iteration increasing temperature and pulse energy. Polaris, the seventh-gen system, aims to demonstrate energy breakeven and beyond, leveraging lessons from thousands of Trenta pulses.
Recent News: In January 2025, Helion announced a $425 million Series F funding round, pushing its valuation to $5.4 billion and total funding above $1 billion (Helion Announces $425M Series F Investment to Scale Commercialized Fusion Power | Helion). New investors include notable venture firms (Lightspeed, SoftBank) alongside existing backers like Sam Altman. Helion’s rapid progress – from achieving 100 million °C plasmas (Helion Announces $425M Series F Investment to Scale Commercialized Fusion Power | Helion) to running Polaris – has attracted significant capital. The Microsoft PPA (signed May 2023) was a landmark as the first-ever customer agreement for fusion power (Helion Announces $425M Series F Investment to Scale Commercialized Fusion Power | Helion). Helion’s approach also earned it a spot in the U.S. Department of Energy’s new Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program, teaming up private companies with national labs (Tokamak Energy - Wikipedia). If Helion meets its aggressive 2028 goal, it could become the first company to put fusion electricity on the grid.
Official Site: helionenergy.com – see their announcement of the Microsoft deal (Helion Announces $425M Series F Investment to Scale Commercialized Fusion Power | Helion) and latest prototype news (Helion Announces $425M Series F Investment to Scale Commercialized Fusion Power | Helion).
Location: Richmond, British Columbia, Canada (metro Vancouver) (General Fusion - Wikipedia).
Approach: Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) – General Fusion’s design injects a magnetically confined plasma (a compact toroid) into a sphere filled with swirling liquid metal, then compresses the liquid metal cavity rapidly (via high-power mechanical pistons or other means) to squeeze the plasma to fusion conditions (General Fusion - Wikipedia). The liquid metal serves as both the compression medium and a heat exchanger to absorb fusion energy and protect the device. This approach aims to achieve high plasma densities without needing the sustained high-power lasers or giant superconducting magnets of other methods. General Fusion, founded in 2002 by Dr. Michel Laberge, has built several experimental devices proving out components of MTF. They have demonstrated the formation of stable plasma targets and the synchronized compression of liquid metal liners. In late 2024, the company published peer-reviewed results confirming significant neutron production and plasma stability during MTF compression tests, validating their technology’s underlying physics (General Fusion confirms significant fusion neutron yield and plasma stability during MTF compression experiment series with new peer-reviewed publication | General Fusion).
Notable Projects & Collaborations: General Fusion is constructing a new large-scale fusion demonstration machine called Lawson Machine 26 (LM26) at its Canadian headquarters. LM26 is designed to reach fusion-relevant plasma conditions over 100 million °C by 2025, and to achieve a breakeven-equivalent performance (~scientific breakeven) by 2026 (Bringing Fusion Energy to Market - Fusion Power | General Fusion) (General Fusion - Wikipedia). This is an update to their prior plan of building a 70%-scale Fusion Demonstration Plant (FDP) in the UK. (In 2021 the company announced a partnership with the UK Atomic Energy Authority to host a demonstration plant at Culham, England (General Fusion - Wikipedia). That project is being refocused into the LM26 program in Canada, though the collaboration with UKAEA continues for engineering and data validation (Bringing Fusion Energy to Market - Fusion Power | General Fusion).) General Fusion works with various national labs and agencies – for instance, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and Canada’s national innovation agencies have invested in its development (Press Releases on General Fusion | General Fusion) (Press Releases on General Fusion | General Fusion). The company also counts global energy firms (like Malaysia’s Petronas) and venture funds among its investors.
Recent News: In November 2024, General Fusion reported a “world-first” result in plasma compression – successfully compressing a plasma target inside a prototype vessel, yielding measurable fusion neutrons and confirming their predictive models (General Fusion confirms significant fusion neutron yield and plasma stability during MTF compression experiment series with new peer-reviewed publication | General Fusion). These results, published in the journal Nuclear Fusion, show that their method of mechanically compressing plasma inside a liquid metal liner can achieve the conditions needed for fusion (General Fusion confirms significant fusion neutron yield and plasma stability during MTF compression experiment series with new peer-reviewed publication | General Fusion). On the funding side, General Fusion closed a $20 million investment led by Canada’s public sector in August 2024 (Press Releases on General Fusion | General Fusion), and earlier secured over $100 million from investors including Jeff Bezos. With ~150 employees as of 2024 (General Fusion - Wikipedia), the company is gearing up to operate LM26 in 2025. If LM26 hits its marks, it will pave the way for a prototype fusion power plant delivering electricity by the early 2030s (Bringing Fusion Energy to Market - Fusion Power | General Fusion).
Official Site: generalfusion.com – see their project update on Lawson Machine 26 (Bringing Fusion Energy to Market - Fusion Power | General Fusion) and the news release on recent experimental results (General Fusion confirms significant fusion neutron yield and plasma stability during MTF compression experiment series with new peer-reviewed publication | General Fusion).
Location: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (near Culham) (Tokamak Energy - Wikipedia).
Approach: Spherical Tokamak with High-Temperature Superconductors – Tokamak Energy is a private UK company (spun out of the UK Atomic Energy Authority in 2009) pursuing compact spherical tokamaks combined with cutting-edge HTS magnet technology (Tokamak Energy - Wikipedia). A spherical tokamak has a cored-apple shape (a tighter aspect ratio than conventional donut-shaped tokamaks), which can produce high plasma pressure in a smaller volume. Tokamak Energy’s devices use HTS coils to generate stronger magnetic fields in a compact geometry, aiming for lower-cost fusion power. Their prototype ST40 tokamak achieved a plasma ion temperature over 100 million °C in March 2022 (Tokamak Energy - Wikipedia) – the first private fusion venture to reach this threshold. This result, published in a peer-reviewed IOP journal in 2023, demonstrated that a compact spherical tokamak can attain fusion-relevant temperatures (Institute of Physics marks Tokamak Energy’s record 100 million degrees fusion plasma - Tokamak Energy) (Institute of Physics marks Tokamak Energy’s record 100 million degrees fusion plasma - Tokamak Energy). Tokamak Energy is now developing a new generation device with a full HTS magnet set, working toward a pilot plant in the 2030s.
Notable Projects & Collaborations: Tokamak Energy built a series of tokamaks (ST25, ST25-HTS, and ST40) to hone their concept (Tokamak Energy - Wikipedia). They are a leader in superconducting magnet development – in 2020, they set a world record with an HTS magnet reaching 24 tesla field (Tokamak Energy - Wikipedia). In 2023, they constructed a set of next-gen HTS magnets to be tested in power-plant relevant scenarios (Tokamak Energy - Wikipedia). The company has a five-year collaboration agreement with the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) (signed Oct 2022) to jointly develop spherical tokamak technology for fusion power (Tokamak Energy - Wikipedia). This partnership focuses on technologies for the UK’s planned STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) fusion reactor, aligning Tokamak Energy’s innovations with the national program. Tokamak Energy was also selected in 2023 for the U.S. DOE’s Milestone-Based Development Program, gaining funding and teaming opportunities with U.S. national labs (Tokamak Energy - Wikipedia). The firm’s international collaborators include Princeton Plasma Physics Lab and Oak Ridge NL, who contributed to its 100 M°C achievement (Institute of Physics marks Tokamak Energy’s record 100 million degrees fusion plasma - Tokamak Energy).
Recent News: The confirmation of 100 M°C plasma in ST40 (achieved in a 5-second pulse) was a major milestone (Institute of Physics marks Tokamak Energy’s record 100 million degrees fusion plasma - Tokamak Energy). It proved the viability of the spherical tokamak route to fusion and set a record for the highest temperature in a privately built device. Tokamak Energy has raised around $250 million in funding to date (Tokamak Energy - Wikipedia), including investments from both government (UK and US) and private sources (Legal & General, Chevron, and others). In May 2023, its U.S. subsidiary secured additional support under the DOE program (Tokamak Energy - Wikipedia) to advance designs towards a pilot plant. With ~250 employees (Tokamak Energy - Wikipedia), Tokamak Energy is transitioning from experimental reactors toward a prototype fusion module that will integrate their HTS magnets and high-performance plasma scenario. They project a grid-connected fusion pilot plant in the early 2030s (Institute of Physics marks Tokamak Energy’s record 100 million degrees fusion plasma - Tokamak Energy), and ultimately a commercial 500 MW spherical tokamak reactor thereafter (Tokamak Energy: 'We'll have fusion energy by 2034' - Mewburn Ellis).
Official Site: tokamakenergy.co.uk – see their press release on the 100 M°C result (Institute of Physics marks Tokamak Energy’s record 100 million degrees fusion plasma - Tokamak Energy) and collaboration with UKAEA (Institute of Physics marks Tokamak Energy’s record 100 million degrees fusion plasma - Tokamak Energy).
Location: Seattle, Washington, USA (with facilities in Everett and Mukilteo) (With first plasmas in next-generation fusion device and fresh capital, Zap Energy advances toward scientific breakeven).
Approach: Sheared-Flow Stabilized Z-Pinch – Zap Energy is developing a radically simplified fusion concept that forgoes large magnets. In a Z-pinch, an electric current runs through a plasma column, creating a self-pinching magnetic field that compresses the plasma. Historically Z-pinches were prone to instabilities, but Zap’s innovation is to introduce a sheared axial flow in the plasma, which stabilizes the pinch long enough for fusion reactions (With first plasmas in next-generation fusion device and fresh capital, Zap Energy advances toward scientific breakeven). This method, originally pioneered at the University of Washington, could allow a much smaller and cheaper fusion system. Zap’s current prototype device, FuZE-Q, is a linear tube where plasma is pulsed to ~500 kA current with flow stabilization. In June 2022, Zap achieved first plasmas in FuZE-Q – a major step toward reaching Q=1 (breakeven) conditions (With first plasmas in next-generation fusion device and fresh capital, Zap Energy advances toward scientific breakeven). They simultaneously closed a $160 million Series C funding round to accelerate development (With first plasmas in next-generation fusion device and fresh capital, Zap Energy advances toward scientific breakeven) (With first plasmas in next-generation fusion device and fresh capital, Zap Energy advances toward scientific breakeven). The approach requires no superconducting coils or lasers – making the engineering far simpler and more compact than a tokamak (With first plasmas in next-generation fusion device and fresh capital, Zap Energy advances toward scientific breakeven).
Notable Projects & Collaborations: The FuZE (Fusion Z-pinch Experiment) series has been Zap’s workhorse. Prior versions demonstrated scaling of stable plasma duration as current increased, culminating in FuZE-Q which targets net energy gain (With first plasmas in next-generation fusion device and fresh capital, Zap Energy advances toward scientific breakeven) (With first plasmas in next-generation fusion device and fresh capital, Zap Energy advances toward scientific breakeven). In 2023, Zap Energy began operating a new test platform called “Century”, which integrates a high-repetition-rate pulsed power system and a liquid metal wall for heat removal (Zap Energy attracts $130M in fresh capital as demo power plant system begins operations and aims for first milestone). Century can fire over 1,000 plasma shots in under 3 hours and is testing technologies needed for a future power plant (like liquid metal loops to absorb neutron heat) (Zap Energy attracts $130M in fresh capital as demo power plant system begins operations and aims for first milestone) (Zap Energy attracts $130M in fresh capital as demo power plant system begins operations and aims for first milestone). Zap was among the winners of the U.S. DOE’s fusion development program, giving it access to national lab expertise and milestone-based funding (Zap Energy attracts $130M in fresh capital as demo power plant system begins operations and aims for first milestone) (Zap Energy attracts $130M in fresh capital as demo power plant system begins operations and aims for first milestone). The company’s academic roots mean it maintains ties with research institutions (UW and Lawrence Livermore were early collaborators in validating the sheared-flow stabilization).
Recent News: In October 2024, Zap Energy raised an additional $130 million (Series D), bringing total funding to over $330 million (Zap Energy attracts $130M in fresh capital as demo power plant system begins operations and aims for first milestone) (Zap Energy attracts $130M in fresh capital as demo power plant system begins operations and aims for first milestone). This round, led by Lowercarbon and major energy investors (including Shell Ventures and Chevron’s VC arm) (Zap Energy attracts $130M in fresh capital as demo power plant system begins operations and aims for first milestone), underscores growing confidence in Zap’s unorthodox approach. The new funding supports parallel R&D on plasma physics and engineering for a prototype power plant (Zap Energy attracts $130M in fresh capital as demo power plant system begins operations and aims for first milestone). Zap’s team has reported plasma electron temperatures up to 1–3 keV (~11–37 million °C) in their device as of 2023 (Zap Energy hits 37-million-degree electron temperatures in compact ...) – steadily advancing toward the conditions needed for fusion ignition. The company aims to achieve a significant milestone on the path to breakeven by end of 2024 as part of its DOE partnership (Zap Energy attracts $130M in fresh capital as demo power plant system begins operations and aims for first milestone). If successful, Zap Energy’s “garage-sized” fusion reactors could offer a transformative, modular fusion power source that is both smaller and simpler than mainstream approaches (With first plasmas in next-generation fusion device and fresh capital, Zap Energy advances toward scientific breakeven) (With first plasmas in next-generation fusion device and fresh capital, Zap Energy advances toward scientific breakeven).
Official Site: zapenergy.com – see their announcement on first FuZE-Q plasmas and Series C funding (With first plasmas in next-generation fusion device and fresh capital, Zap Energy advances toward scientific breakeven) (With first plasmas in next-generation fusion device and fresh capital, Zap Energy advances toward scientific breakeven), as well as the Series D funding news (Zap Energy attracts $130M in fresh capital as demo power plant system begins operations and aims for first milestone) (Zap Energy attracts $130M in fresh capital as demo power plant system begins operations and aims for first milestone).
Location: Oxford, United Kingdom.
Approach: Inertial Fusion via Hyper-Velocity Projectiles – First Light Fusion, an Oxford University spin-out, is pursuing a novel form of inertial confinement fusion that swaps expensive lasers for a simpler method: firing a very fast projectile at a fusion fuel target. The idea is to use a large two-stage gas gun or electromagnetic launcher to shoot a projectile into a tiny target containing deuterium-tritium fuel, compressing it to fusion. The key is First Light’s proprietary target design, which focuses the shockwave from the impact to achieve the necessary pressures and temperatures (First Light Fusion | News & Media | First Light achieves world first fusion result, proving unique new target technology) (First Light Fusion | News & Media | First Light achieves world first fusion result, proving unique new target technology). In April 2022, First Light announced it had achieved fusion using this projectile method, with the result independently validated by UKAEA (First Light Fusion | News & Media | First Light achieves world first fusion result, proving unique new target technology) (First Light Fusion | News & Media | First Light achieves world first fusion result, proving unique new target technology). This was the first time fusion was achieved without lasers or magnetic confinement – essentially a new approach to inertial fusion (First Light Fusion | News & Media | First Light achieves world first fusion result, proving unique new target technology). The company emphasizes the relative simplicity and low cost of their approach; they reportedly spent under £45 million to reach this milestone (First Light Fusion | News & Media | First Light achieves world first fusion result, proving unique new target technology).
Notable Projects & Collaborations: First Light built a series of “Machine 3” gas guns to develop their technique, culminating in the successful fusion shot using a projectile at 6.5 km/s impacting a target (First Light Fusion | News & Media | First Light achieves world first fusion result, proving unique new target technology). They have since switched focus toward scaling up the energy yield. The next step is designing a pilot power plant concept. The company has been working on “Machine 4”, which will be the world’s largest pulsed power machine, aiming to demonstrate energy gain (where the fusion energy output exceeds the projectile input) (First Light Fusion is Paving the Way For Commercial Fusion Power | Founders Forum Group) (First Light Fusion is Paving the Way For Commercial Fusion Power | Founders Forum Group). Machine 4 will involve a huge pulsed power capacitor bank to drive projectiles, and is planned to be operational by 2030 (First Light Fusion is Paving the Way For Commercial Fusion Power | Founders Forum Group). First Light is collaborating with the UK Atomic Energy Authority – in fact, their new demonstration facility (for Machine 4) is being constructed at UKAEA’s Culham campus starting in 2024 (First Light Fusion is Paving the Way For Commercial Fusion Power | Founders Forum Group). They also teamed up with Canada’s National Nuclear Lab (CNL) on hybrid applications like fusion-driven tritium production (First Light teams up with CNL on tritium production). Unlike some startups, First Light is open to partnering with established industries: after proving their concept, they indicated they may license their target technology or co-develop plants with larger energy firms (First Light Fusion switches strategy, drops plans to develop power ...).
Recent News: The 2022 fusion result was First Light’s biggest breakthrough – the UK government’s Energy Secretary hailed it as a potential “revolution” in power production (First Light Fusion | News & Media | First Light achieves world first fusion result, proving unique new target technology). Since then, First Light has been securing funds for the pilot plant stage. The company raised over £70 million (~$85 M) since inception, including a $45 million Series C in Feb 2022 (First Light Fusion is Paving the Way For Commercial Fusion Power | Founders Forum Group). In late 2022 and 2023 they shifted strategy to focus on their unique strength (target physics) and partner with others on reactor development (First Light Fusion switches strategy, drops plans to develop power ...). First Light’s pilot plant concept envisions a ~150 MW plant in the mid-2030s ([PDF] Written evidence from First Light Fusion (NCL0031)), costing under $1 billion – relatively cheap for fusion. To meet that timeline, they will need to demonstrate net energy from a single projectile shot and a high repetition rate. Their approach’s big advantage is leveraging existing industrial tech (projectiles, pulsed power), which could make fusion power plants simpler to build and maintain. After the National Ignition Facility’s laser-based ignition success, First Light’s projectile method is another reminder that there are multiple paths to fusion energy.
Official Site: firstlightfusion.com – see their announcement of the fusion result (First Light Fusion | News & Media | First Light achieves world first fusion result, proving unique new target technology) and their technology overview.
Location: Saint-Paul-lès-Durance, southern France.
Approach: Tokamak (Experimental Reactor) – ITER is the world’s largest fusion project, a collaboration of 35 nations (the EU, UK, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and the US, among others) (ITER's proposed new timeline - initial phase of operations in 2035 - World Nuclear News). The goal of ITER is to build a toroidal magnetic confinement device that can produce 500 MW of fusion power for 400 seconds continuously with an input of 50 MW (ITER's proposed new timeline - initial phase of operations in 2035 - World Nuclear News). In other words, ITER aims to demonstrate a self-heating “burning plasma” that yields 10× more energy output than input – a crucial proof of concept for fusion as a power source. The ITER tokamak will be absolutely huge: 23,000 tons of equipment (Facts & Figures), a plasma volume of 840 m³ (about 10× that of the largest current tokamak), and superconducting magnet coils 17 m tall. Construction of ITER’s facility began in 2010, and as of mid-2020s the complex – which spans 42 hectares – is in advanced assembly stages (ITER's proposed new timeline - initial phase of operations in 2035 - World Nuclear News). Once complete, ITER will be the first fusion device to operate at the scale of a power plant.
Notable Projects & Collaborations: ITER itself is a collaboration on a massive scale. Europe is contributing ~45% of the construction cost, with the other member countries contributing the rest (ITER's proposed new timeline - initial phase of operations in 2035 - World Nuclear News). Instead of money, most partners contribute in-kind components – e.g. superconducting magnet modules built in China, India building the cryostat, Japan supplying high-power RF heating systems, etc. All these pieces are shipped to France for assembly. Notably, the central solenoid (built in the USA) is so powerful it can exert forces equal to twice the Space Shuttle’s thrust (Facts & Figures). The scientific mission of ITER is to study burning DT plasmas and test technologies like tritium breeding blankets, high-duty-cycle operation, and power handling in a reactor environment (ITER's proposed new timeline - initial phase of operations in 2035 - World Nuclear News) (ITER's proposed new timeline - initial phase of operations in 2035 - World Nuclear News). ITER’s findings will inform the design of the first generation of DEMOs – demonstration fusion power plants planned by various countries.
Recent News: ITER has faced delays – the original first plasma target of 2025 has been pushed out. In 2023, the ITER Council announced a “realistic” new timeline aiming for initial plasma operations (using hydrogen or deuterium fuel) by 2035, followed by full deuterium-tritium fusion experiments thereafter (ITER's proposed new timeline - initial phase of operations in 2035 - World Nuclear News) (ITER's proposed new timeline - initial phase of operations in 2035 - World Nuclear News). While this is later than hoped, the project decided to prioritize getting as much research value as possible out of the first configuration, even if it takes longer (ITER's proposed new timeline - initial phase of operations in 2035 - World Nuclear News) (ITER's proposed new timeline - initial phase of operations in 2035 - World Nuclear News). Despite challenges (including COVID disruptions and technical issues like defective component welds), assembly progresses – for example, all giant toroidal field magnets have been fabricated, and the massive tokamak vacuum vessel sectors are in place. When ITER achieves a burning plasma (likely in the late 2030s), it will mark a historic moment: sustaining fusion reactions at a scale of a power station, albeit ITER will not generate electricity. Nonetheless, the knowledge and engineering experience from ITER are already benefiting the fusion industry (ITER's proposed new timeline - initial phase of operations in 2035 - World Nuclear News) (ITER's proposed new timeline - initial phase of operations in 2035 - World Nuclear News). The project is essentially a training ground for the generation of fusion engineers and companies that will build the first commercial reactors in coming decades.
Official Site: iter.org – see the ITER Facts & Figures (ITER's proposed new timeline - initial phase of operations in 2035 - World Nuclear News) (ITER's proposed new timeline - initial phase of operations in 2035 - World Nuclear News) and project timeline updates.
Location: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, California, USA.
Approach: Inertial Confinement Fusion (Laser-driven) – The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is the world’s largest laser fusion experiment. It uses 192 powerful laser beams focused into a centimeter-scale target capsule containing fusion fuel. By delivering a pulse of 2 megajoules of laser energy in a few nanoseconds, NIF implodes the fuel capsule, creating extreme densities and temperatures for a fleeting instant. The objective: achieve ignition, where the fusion output exceeds the laser input. In December 2022, NIF made history by achieving fusion ignition for the first time ever in a laboratory (US scientists repeat fusion ignition breakthrough for 2nd time | Reuters) (US scientists repeat fusion ignition breakthrough for 2nd time | Reuters). That shot produced 3.15 MJ of fusion energy from 2.05 MJ laser input (yielding 1.5× energy gain) (US scientists repeat fusion ignition breakthrough for 2nd time | Reuters). This result was a major scientific breakthrough, proving that controlled fusion can produce net energy gain (albeit for a tiny fraction of a second) (US scientists repeat fusion ignition breakthrough for 2nd time | Reuters). NIF uses indirect-drive inertial fusion: the lasers heat a gold “hohlraum” cavity, which emits X-rays that implode the capsule. It’s a very complex system, primarily developed under the U.S. nuclear weapons program to study matter at high densities, but with clear implications for fusion energy science.
Notable Projects & Collaborations: NIF is a single facility, but it involves collaboration among national labs (LLNL, LLE, etc.) and academic partners. After reaching ignition, the focus is on repeating and improving the results. NIF achieved ignition a second time on July 30, 2023, with an even higher yield of ~3.9 MJ (US scientists repeat fusion ignition breakthrough for 2nd time | Reuters). In fact, as of early 2024, NIF has repeated ignition in several shots – demonstrating reproducibility (Achieving Fusion Ignition | National Ignition Facility & Photon Science) (LLNL's Breakthrough Ignition Experiment Highlighted in Physical ...). These experiments provide data for designing next-generation laser fusion systems. There are already proposals for a new Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) research facility that would build on NIF’s success to explore targets that ignite more efficiently and at higher repetition rates. Internationally, NIF’s achievement has invigorated inertial fusion research; for instance, the UK is planning a new “Laser MegaJoule Upgrade” and private startups (like Focused Energy and Marvel Fusion) are exploring laser-driven fusion for power.
Recent News: The U.S. Department of Energy hailed NIF’s December 2022 ignition shot as a “historic, first-of-its-kind” breakthrough (US scientists repeat fusion ignition breakthrough for 2nd time | Reuters). It validates decades of work. In 2023, NIF has been finetuning target designs (capsule composition, laser pulse shapes) to increase yield and gain. The fact that ignition was repeated within months is hugely encouraging (US scientists repeat fusion ignition breakthrough for 2nd time | Reuters). NIF’s best shot to date released about 3.88 MJ of fusion energy (Achieving Fusion Ignition | National Ignition Facility & Photon Science) – roughly enough energy to boil a few kettles of water, which sounds small but the scientific significance is enormous. These experiments are helping researchers understand how to achieve higher fusion “burn” and perhaps self-sustaining burn (where the fusion reactions themselves drive further fusion). While NIF is not a power plant (it was not designed for continuous operation, and the lasers consume far more grid energy than the fusion output), it has proven the physics of ignition. The path ahead for inertial fusion energy will involve making the laser drivers much more efficient and pulsing at high repetition (several shots per second rather than one shot every few hours as at NIF). Still, NIF’s success is a proof-of-concept for fusion energy and a shining milestone after decades of research.
Official Site: lasers.llnl.gov (NIF & Photon Science) – see their announcement on achieving ignition (US scientists repeat fusion ignition breakthrough for 2nd time | Reuters) and the follow-up on the second ignition shot (US scientists repeat fusion ignition breakthrough for 2nd time | Reuters).
While many privately funded efforts grab headlines, government-backed research tokamaks in Asia are achieving record-breaking performance in sustained plasma operations. EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) in Hefei, China, and KSTAR (Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research) in Daejeon, South Korea, are two “long-pulse” tokamaks leading the pack in steady-state fusion research.
Why it Matters: The achievements of EAST and KSTAR demonstrate steady-state fusion operation, complementing the high-output but pulsed results of ITER and others. A future fusion power plant must run continuously for long periods. The lessons in superconducting magnet operation, plasma stability, and materials from these devices are invaluable. For example, holding a plasma for 17 minutes (as EAST did) tests the resilience of internal components under intense heat flux for far longer than ever before (China's 'artificial sun' nuclear fusion reactor sets new world record). Both projects are fully government-funded and serve as testbeds for technologies (like internal transport barrier control, radio-frequency heating, etc.) that will be used in demo reactors. They also offer opportunities for training scientists and developing local fusion industries in Asia. These “artificial suns” shining in East Asia are a reminder that fusion research is a global endeavor – and progress in one region benefits the entire world’s quest for fusion energy.
Sources: The Hefei Institute of Plasma Physics reports on EAST’s 1056-second record (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak - Wikipedia), and Korea’s KFE institute announced KSTAR’s 30-second 100 M°C record ( Nuclear Fusion / South Korea’s KSTAR Sets 30-Second Record At 100 Million Degrees ). Both devices continue to break their own records annually.
Fusion energy development is rapidly evolving, with public mega-projects and agile startups attacking the problem from all angles. We now have traditional tokamaks reaching steady-state conditions, novel compact reactors hitting unprecedented temperatures, and even alternative concepts (lasers, z-pinches, projectiles) proving viable. The fusion industry is heating up – in a good way. Governments are investing in fusion as a long-term clean energy solution, and private capital is flowing into startups at an accelerating pace (over $6 billion in venture funding to date). For those interested in careers, this means a growing number of fusion jobs at companies like the ones above, often spanning engineering disciplines, physics, computer science, and project management. Industry professionals are also watching these developments closely, as fusion’s timeline to commercialization accelerates. And for the general public, each breakthrough – from ignition in a lab to a 30-second “mini-sun” – brings us a step closer to a future where fusion powers our grid with abundant, carbon-free energy. The challenges remain immense, but as these pioneering organizations have shown, the progress is real and picking up pace. Keep an eye on this space – the coming decade will likely see even more record-smashing achievements on the road to practical fusion power.