Fusion energy: a wish that is about to become reality
08.12.2025
Many people consider nuclear fusion to be a dangerous gimmick. A distant fantasy of science, even a billion-dollar grave. But fusion energy is neither an incalculable risk nor a sci-fi project. It is one of the most promising technologies of our time. We have never been as close to a breakthrough as we are today. That this will succeed is therefore my great wish for the coming years. Not just for my physicist heart, but for the whole of humanity.
It is already becoming clear how urgently we need an energy source that is strong, secure and reliable. The hunger for energy will grow massively in the coming years. According to a study by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, global energy consumption will increase by almost 50 percent compared to 2020. AI, high-performance computing, digitalization and an increasingly electrified industry are all driving this growth. Geopolitical tensions also show how vulnerable our current energy system is.
Inexhaustible and without chain reaction
Nuclear fusion could solve this problem. While nuclear fission splits heavy, radioactive atoms such as uranium, creating long-lived nuclear waste, fusion works on a completely different principle. To produce energy, light atomic nuclei fuse to form helium. This is a valuable noble gas that we urgently need in medicine, chip production and research. All this happens without the risk of an uncontrollable chain reaction, explosion or a final repository that has to be safe for millions of years.
We can also use fusion energy in the long term. There is enough deuterium in every liter of seawater to release the energy of 250 liters of gasoline. The additional lithium we need for the fusion process will last for many hundreds of generations.
Nuclear fusion can trigger a turning point
The commercialization of nuclear fusion would be a game changer for the economy. A virtually unlimited energy supply will reduce production costs in the long term and give industries back the security they are currently sorely lacking. Data centers, AI systems, hydrogen production, the building materials industry, chemical companies and many other sectors would benefit from an energy source that flows reliably and is not at the mercy of the weather.
New markets are emerging, new technologies are becoming possible. Anyone researching lasers, superconducting magnets or high-performance materials today could soon be among the pioneers of a new industrial age. In addition, research in laser and fusion research is also useful for other areas - keyword: dual-use!
Fusion offers an unexpected opportunity for the energy transition. It does not take anything away from renewable energies, it raises them to a new level. Wind and sun provide clean energy, but they fluctuate and need to be supplemented. Fusion could close this gap. It provides a stable base load and thus strengthens the entire system.
Bavaria advances as a hotspot
Germany, and Bavaria in particular, can play a key role in this development. There are not even 100 fusion companies worldwide. It is therefore all the more remarkable that the density, quality and historical depth of research in Europe is very strong and unique. Bavaria is a shining example of this.
The region around Munich is home to start-ups that are among the most innovative in the world. The proximity to the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics creates an environment in which ideas not only emerge, but thrive. With its strength in laser technology, electronics and high-performance materials, the Bavarian economic landscape provides the building blocks from which fusion research and industry can grow. Government programs provide an important tailwind, but speed and determination must continue to increase. Europe must not leave this race to the world.
FusionX lays the foundation for industrialization
What is needed now are smart investments and strong networks that unite research, politics and business. This is exactly where Bayern Innovativ comes in. We are bringing the international fusion community to Munich in February with FusionX:Global, the first time it has ever been held on EU soil. This event is a symbol for me. It shows that our desire is no longer a distant idea, but is beginning to take shape. Bavaria offers a location that can shape this change.
I hope that we have the courage not only to dream about this vision, but to pursue it with determination. The stars have shown us how to do it. Now it's up to us to bring their fire down to earth.
Author: Annika Michalak
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