Executives from the fusion energy industry met with officials from the United States Department of Energy to request substantial public financial support for their projects. Their stated goal is to accelerate the development of an energy source based on the same principle that powers the sun, amid growing concerns about lagging behind China.
Towards redirected federal funding
The meeting followed the recent establishment of the Office of Fusion within the Department of Energy, created during a structural reorganisation. This move, initiated by the Trump administration, eliminated several renewable energy divisions while reinforcing fossil fuel and nuclear departments. Billions of dollars previously allocated under the Biden administration to green hydrogen and renewables have been rescinded.
Industry representatives requested that part of these funds be redirected to nuclear fusion, calling for annual appropriations exceeding $1bn, along with a one-time infrastructure investment. Andrew Holland, Chief Executive Officer of the Fusion Industry Association, stated that private companies will not be able to compete globally without major public support.
Experimental but strategic technology
For decades, laboratories and private companies have worked to master nuclear fusion through lasers or magnetism. The principle involves fusing light atomic nuclei to release a large amount of energy. In 2022, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California briefly achieved net energy gain in a laser experiment, a world first, though commercial output remains out of reach.
Industry leaders believe this breakthrough could come faster with the help of disruptive digital tools. They also discussed the Genesis Mission, a federal initiative launched by the Trump administration to harness government scientific datasets for training artificial intelligence technologies.
Technology race in the background
Executives from companies such as Zap Energy believe that combining AI and fusion could help the United States convert its scientific edge into industrial leadership. “The Department of Energy and the Genesis Mission can ensure the US remains at the forefront, bridging the gap between research and commercialisation,” said Marvi Matos Rodriguez, Executive Vice President of Technology at Zap Energy.
