US tosses $134M pocket change at fusion pipe dream
(2025/09/11)
- Reference: 1757599216
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/09/11/us_fusion_power_funding/
- Source link:
America's Department of Energy (DOE) has earmarked $134 million in funding for two programs aimed at securing US leadership in emerging fusion technologies. The move comes amid renewed interest in nuclear power sparked by surging datacenter energy demands.
Fusion won't avert need for climate change 'sacrifice', says nuclear energy expert [1]READ MORE
The DOE funding will be split between the Fusion Innovative Research Engine (FIRE) initiative, which gets $128 million, and the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE) program, which will receive a much smaller $6.1 million.
There's an old joke that says nuclear fusion power is 30 years away and always will be, which perhaps explains why the DOE is only committing such modest sums, in comparison with the billions being pumped into the semiconductor industry.
FIRE was formed with the goal of developing a fusion innovation ecosystem around centrally managed teams called "Collaboratives." These are charged with bridging the DOE's own basic science research programs and nascent fusion industries in the US.
With INFUSE, the DOE says it has selected 20 projects that accelerate private-sector fusion energy development by reducing barriers to collaboration between businesses and national laboratories or universities. What these barriers are isn't stated.
[2]
Projects selected include research into materials science, laser technology development, high-temperature superconducting magnet assessment, and machine learning for fusion modeling and simulation.
[3]
[4]
The DOE claims these initiatives represent a significant step forward in advancing fusion energy research, and ultimately supporting the development of technologies crucial for US national security, energy security, and defense.
The DOE notes that fusion has the potential to provide abundant, reliable energy, if it can be made to work. This would be a godsend with [5]datacenter energy use set to more than double by the end of the decade , plus the move to electric vehicles and electrification of industrial processes all putting strain on energy supply.
[6]
Secretary of Energy Chris Wright claimed these programs are set to open up "the next frontier of American energy."
"Fusion power holds the promise of limitless, reliable, American-made energy, and programs like INFUSE and FIRE ensure our innovators have the tools, talent, and partnerships to make it a reality," he stated.
[7]Physicist models new use for nuclear waste: Turning it into super-rare fusion fuel
[8]Google to buy power from fusion energy startup Commonwealth – if they can ever make it work
[9]UK dumps £2.5 billion into fusion pipe dream that's already cost millions
[10]Fusion eggheads claim modeling fix for particle escape – at least in stellarators
Burning plasma signals step forward in race for nuclear fusion as researchers get bigger capsule for their 192-laser experiment [11]READ MORE
However, an article published by [12]The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists last year quoted plasma physicist Bob Rosner as stating that commercial-scale, tokamak-style fusion will not be a reality in his lifetime, "and I think not in my children's lifetime, or my grandchildren's lifetime."
Despite the difficulties in making fusion power a reality, it continues to attract a steady drumbeat of investment. In June, for example, the UK government stumped up an extra £2.5 billion ($3.4 billion) for the spherical tokamak for energy production ( [13]STEP ) project, built on the site of a former coal power station in Nottinghamshire.
Google also agreed in June to [14]purchase fusion energy from Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), even though its ARC power plant is still under development, and [15]startup Helion scored another $425 million in funding earlier this year.
[16]
Microsoft had previously agreed to site a 50 MW fusion power plant from the firm at one of its datacenters in Washington State – if a commercially fusion solution ever materializes. ®
Get our [17]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2022/05/31/fusion_no_answer_to_climate/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aMLyFPwH-q8PioM_fZ2CLQAAAQk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aMLyFPwH-q8PioM_fZ2CLQAAAQk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aMLyFPwH-q8PioM_fZ2CLQAAAQk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/07/datacenter_energy_goldman_sachs/
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aMLyFPwH-q8PioM_fZ2CLQAAAQk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/18/physicist_nuclear_waste_fusion_fuel/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/30/google_fusion_commonwealth/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/13/uk_dumps_25_billion_into/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/12/modeling_fix_for_fusion_particle_escape/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/27/burning_plasma_signals_a_step/
[12] https://thebulletin.org/premium/2024-11/introduction-fusion-the-next-big-thing-again/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/26/uk_step_fusion_site/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/30/google_fusion_commonwealth/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/29/helion_funding/
[16] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aMLyFPwH-q8PioM_fZ2CLQAAAQk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[17] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Fusion won't avert need for climate change 'sacrifice', says nuclear energy expert [1]READ MORE
The DOE funding will be split between the Fusion Innovative Research Engine (FIRE) initiative, which gets $128 million, and the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE) program, which will receive a much smaller $6.1 million.
There's an old joke that says nuclear fusion power is 30 years away and always will be, which perhaps explains why the DOE is only committing such modest sums, in comparison with the billions being pumped into the semiconductor industry.
FIRE was formed with the goal of developing a fusion innovation ecosystem around centrally managed teams called "Collaboratives." These are charged with bridging the DOE's own basic science research programs and nascent fusion industries in the US.
With INFUSE, the DOE says it has selected 20 projects that accelerate private-sector fusion energy development by reducing barriers to collaboration between businesses and national laboratories or universities. What these barriers are isn't stated.
[2]
Projects selected include research into materials science, laser technology development, high-temperature superconducting magnet assessment, and machine learning for fusion modeling and simulation.
[3]
[4]
The DOE claims these initiatives represent a significant step forward in advancing fusion energy research, and ultimately supporting the development of technologies crucial for US national security, energy security, and defense.
The DOE notes that fusion has the potential to provide abundant, reliable energy, if it can be made to work. This would be a godsend with [5]datacenter energy use set to more than double by the end of the decade , plus the move to electric vehicles and electrification of industrial processes all putting strain on energy supply.
[6]
Secretary of Energy Chris Wright claimed these programs are set to open up "the next frontier of American energy."
"Fusion power holds the promise of limitless, reliable, American-made energy, and programs like INFUSE and FIRE ensure our innovators have the tools, talent, and partnerships to make it a reality," he stated.
[7]Physicist models new use for nuclear waste: Turning it into super-rare fusion fuel
[8]Google to buy power from fusion energy startup Commonwealth – if they can ever make it work
[9]UK dumps £2.5 billion into fusion pipe dream that's already cost millions
[10]Fusion eggheads claim modeling fix for particle escape – at least in stellarators
Burning plasma signals step forward in race for nuclear fusion as researchers get bigger capsule for their 192-laser experiment [11]READ MORE
However, an article published by [12]The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists last year quoted plasma physicist Bob Rosner as stating that commercial-scale, tokamak-style fusion will not be a reality in his lifetime, "and I think not in my children's lifetime, or my grandchildren's lifetime."
Despite the difficulties in making fusion power a reality, it continues to attract a steady drumbeat of investment. In June, for example, the UK government stumped up an extra £2.5 billion ($3.4 billion) for the spherical tokamak for energy production ( [13]STEP ) project, built on the site of a former coal power station in Nottinghamshire.
Google also agreed in June to [14]purchase fusion energy from Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), even though its ARC power plant is still under development, and [15]startup Helion scored another $425 million in funding earlier this year.
[16]
Microsoft had previously agreed to site a 50 MW fusion power plant from the firm at one of its datacenters in Washington State – if a commercially fusion solution ever materializes. ®
Get our [17]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2022/05/31/fusion_no_answer_to_climate/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aMLyFPwH-q8PioM_fZ2CLQAAAQk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aMLyFPwH-q8PioM_fZ2CLQAAAQk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aMLyFPwH-q8PioM_fZ2CLQAAAQk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/07/datacenter_energy_goldman_sachs/
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aMLyFPwH-q8PioM_fZ2CLQAAAQk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/18/physicist_nuclear_waste_fusion_fuel/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/30/google_fusion_commonwealth/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/13/uk_dumps_25_billion_into/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/12/modeling_fix_for_fusion_particle_escape/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/27/burning_plasma_signals_a_step/
[12] https://thebulletin.org/premium/2024-11/introduction-fusion-the-next-big-thing-again/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/26/uk_step_fusion_site/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/30/google_fusion_commonwealth/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/29/helion_funding/
[16] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aMLyFPwH-q8PioM_fZ2CLQAAAQk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[17] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Two options
gv
I didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition.
tony72
...which perhaps explains why the DOE is only committing such modest sums, in comparison with the billions being pumped into the semiconductor industry.
The fusion industry is raising plenty of private capital all by itself, so it wouldn't make much sense for the DOE to pump money into already well-funded fusion companies that really don't need the help. Commonwealth Fusion Systems has raised over $2 billion by itself, for example. By contrast, manufacturing chips in the USA is *only* going to happen if the government pumps a ton of money into it (and uses tariffs and other coercions into the bargain) to make it happen, so I'd say it's more about putting the money where it's needed than anything else.
"Fusion power"
Pascal Monett
What ?
You mean to tell me that all those "renewable" windmills and solar panels aren't going to be enough ?
Gosh. Count my gast flabbered.
Two options
Option 1: You can start a shuttle service between the Sun and Earth harvesting energy at the Sun and then use the shuttle to bring it back to Earth. I think several commercial US launchers would be interested in such service.
Option 2: You can can gather all the bullshit of the internet into one single place and you are guaranteed it will attain critical mass and self-ignite into a sustained ball of fusion. The fuel comes from attracting all bullshit generated by humans and non-humans alike, which should be enough for the next few millennia.
Option 3: We all admit that we can't count and invest in the pipe dream until it attains terminal mass and creates a black hole that will devour our entire solar system. The planning office at Alpha Centauri was heard to sigh in relief when this option became available and a new planning notice was immediately published.