What the U.S. Department of Energy unveiled on October 16, 2025, is a Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap, setting a national strategy to deliver commercial fusion power by the mid-2030s. This initiative aligns public investment and private innovation through a Build, Innovate, Grow strategy. The Roadmap was developed with input from over 600 scientists, engineers, and industry stakeholders, defining key research and technology gaps to close. Meanwhile, the DOE is coordinating efforts across national laboratories, industry, and universities to strengthen America’s leadership in fusion energy.
Accelerating Fusion Energy Development
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently released its Fusion Science and Technology (FS&T) Roadmap, outlining a national strategy to accelerate the development and commercialization of fusion energy. This plan aims to deliver commercial fusion power to the grid by the mid-2030s, representing a significant push to expand domestic energy production. According to the DOE, the Roadmap establishes a “Build, Innovate, Grow” strategy to align public investment with private innovation, ensuring a responsible and rapid timeline for progress.
Building on this foundation, the FS&T Roadmap identifies key research gaps and technology needs that must be addressed to realize a Fusion Pilot Plant (FPP). The strategy focuses on three primary drivers: building critical infrastructure to close fusion materials and technology gaps, innovating through advanced research utilizing high-performance computing and artificial intelligence, and growing the U.S. fusion ecosystem through public-private partnerships. Developed with input from over 600 scientists, engineers, and industry stakeholders, the Roadmap reflects a collaborative effort to strengthen U.S. leadership in the global fusion industry.
According to Dr. from the Energy Department, this coordinated approach across America’s fusion enterprise is unprecedented. The DOE is streamlining the full strength of the U.S. scientific and industrial base to deliver fusion energy faster than ever before. This initiative, unveiled as part of the U.S. Fusion Energy Enterprise Events in Washington, D.C., brings together leaders from government, industry, and academia to discuss the future of American fusion energy and secure a new era of abundant, reliable, American-made energy.
Building America’s Fusion Future
Building on this national strategy, the Department of Energy’s roadmap prioritizes establishing a robust domestic supply chain for critical materials needed to build and maintain fusion power plants. This includes rare earth elements, high-strength alloys, and specialized superconducting magnets, according to the roadmap. Jean Paul Allain from DOE’s Office of Fusion Energy Sciences emphasized the importance of securing these resources to avoid reliance on foreign suppliers and ensure a stable foundation for the U.S. fusion industry. Strengthening this supply chain is viewed as essential for timely construction and operation of a Fusion Pilot Plant (FPP).
“Fusion is real, near, and ready for coordinated action”
Jean Paul Allain, DOE’s Office of Fusion Energy Sciences
The FS&T Roadmap further details a plan to leverage high-performance computing and artificial intelligence to accelerate materials discovery and optimize fusion reactor designs. Scientists, engineers, and industry stakeholders collaborated to identify key research gaps where advanced computational methods can deliver significant breakthroughs. This initiative aims to dramatically reduce the time and cost associated with developing and testing new materials capable of withstanding the extreme conditions within a fusion reactor. The roadmap specifically targets advancements in modeling plasma behavior and predicting material performance under intense neutron irradiation.
Meanwhile, the strategy actively promotes public-private partnerships to foster innovation and attract private investment into the fusion sector. The Department of Energy intends to de-risk early-stage fusion technologies through targeted funding opportunities and collaborative research projects. Leaders from government, industry, and academia are encouraged to pool resources and expertise to overcome technical challenges and accelerate the commercialization process. This collaborative approach, according to the roadmap, will be crucial for building a thriving U.S. fusion ecosystem and establishing American leadership in this transformative energy technology.
Building on this coordinated strategy, the Department of Energy anticipates a strengthened American energy landscape and rebuilt supply chains. This roadmap, as outlined by Dr. from the Energy Department, will align public investment with private innovation, accelerating the delivery of commercial fusion power to the grid by the mid-2030s.
For industries reliant on stable and abundant energy, this represents a significant step toward a new era of American-made power. Scientists, engineers, and industry stakeholders will now work with a shared purpose, potentially enabling a more resilient and secure energy future, a vision reinforced by President Trump’s commitment to domestic energy production.
