DOE fusion roadmap marks important step to commercializing fusion, but must be matched with federal investment
The U.S. Department of Energy announced its Fusion Science and Technology roadmap, identifying key steps the United States must take to overcome remaining science and technology gaps to ensure the U.S. leads the world in commercial fusion energy deployment.
“This announcement is an important signal to the rest of the world that the United States is serious about fusion energy, but that signal must be met with action,” said Sehila Gonzalez, Global Director for Fusion Energy at Clean Air Task Force (CATF). “Fusion energy has the potential to provide abundant, clean, reliable electricity to enhance energy security, combat climate change, and meet rising energy demand. But to realize that potential, the federal government must back up its verbal commitments with concrete actions. If the United States does not commit the resources needed to carry out the goals outlined in the roadmap, other countries will fill the gap, and the U.S. could quickly cede its global fusion energy leadership.”
The fusion roadmap identifies near-, mid-, and long-term actions to deploy fusion by the mid-2030s, focusing on developing key fusion materials and technology infrastructure, advancing AI-fusion integration, and supporting supply chains and workforce development. Notably, the roadmap incorporates major private sector companies and their devices into national fusion strategy, anchoring the U.S. vision for scaling fusion a competitive domestic fusion industry around public-private partnerships.
“This roadmap outlines a pathway for fusion energy to deliver abundant, firm, and clean, electricity to power the United States,” said Patrick White, Group Lead, Fusion Energy Safety and Regulation. “Achieving that potential, however, will require the roadmap’s ambitious goals to be matched with commensurate resources. To fully carry out the Build, Innovate, Grow vision, the federal government must substantially increase funding to simultaneously pursue all three pillars in parallel.”
CATF recently published recommendations for Congress and the administration to support energy innovation and commercialization of fusion energy. The priorities of the roadmap strongly align with CATF’s recommendation to “Unlock Public Sector Resources to Unleash Private Sector Dominance” and to “Reorient Department of Energy Research Priorities.” CATF’s recommendations also include support for a $10 billion one-time appropriation, which would be essential to support the public infrastructure buildout of the Department of Energy’s “Build, Innovate, Grow” vision. The full report can be found here.
CATF also tracks fusion projects worldwide through its Global Fusion Map, an interactive resource that compiles publicly available data to show where fusion activity is growing.
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About Clean Air Task Force
Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With more than 25 years of internationally recognized expertise on climate policy and a fierce commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world. Visit catf.us and follow @cleanaircatf.
