Paths to the fusion power plant

26.03.2026

Source: E & M powernews

Inexhaustible, climate-neutral energy: fusion technology holds great promise. The first power plant could be built by 2045 - if the framework conditions are right.

"From a scientific point of view, there is no reason why fusion should not succeed," concludes the "Research and Innovation Roadmap Fusion Energy (FIRE)" published by the German Academy of Science and Engineering (Acatech) on March 24. However, a "massive acceleration" would be necessary to be able to put such a reactor into operation by 2045.

With leading research institutes, fusion companies and an efficient industry, Germany has a "very good starting point for successful innovations in fusion energy". However, the various fusion approaches are each associated with specific technological challenges.

In a tokamak - currently the best researched and developed approach, in which plasma is held by the interaction of three superimposed magnetic fields - plasma disruptions could make power plant operation impossible, for example. In a stellarator, on the other hand, the magnetic cage is generated by a single coil system. Here, however, the focus would be on stable plasma confinement. Laser fusion, on the other hand, requires progress in the development of central components, specifically laser systems.

Advances in materials and fuel, which comprise the basic technologies for fusion energy, play a central role in the successful operation of a fusion power plant. Materials would have to withstand extreme stresses from heat and neutron irradiation, while technologies for tritium supply and the fuel cycle would have to ensure the availability and sustainability of tritium. The parallel development of these cross-sectional technologies is crucial in order to avoid later bottlenecks and enable progress.

From the finished power plant to strategy development

"Based on the goal of building and operating a functional power plant, we have identified interim goals and formulated corresponding time estimates," Acatech President Claudia Eckert was quoted as saying on the publication of the roadmap. "In order to operate a fusion power plant sustainably and economically, a technical and industrial fusion ecosystem must be established. In addition to considerable investment in the technological infrastructure and in the training of specialists, this also requires a supportive legal framework to give the industry investment security."

The first task now is to implement three technological approaches: The development of infrastructures for fusion-specific neutron testing and the fuel cycle; the prioritization of the stellarator as a power plant technology for magnetic fusion and the determined development of laser technology.

In three scenarios, the roadmap shows what the further path to a functional nuclear fusion reactor could look like. In scenario one, high investments would be necessary, some of which would flow into parallel developments: This parallelism would reduce the strategic risk and increase the chance of finding robust solutions, but would also increase the technological risks and increase the organizational effort. Scenario two initially relies on basic research in a more resource-efficient and lower-risk manner, although this is associated with increased time expenditure. In the third scenario, a pre-competitive research infrastructure would first be established in order to overcome scientific hurdles together.

If measures to accelerate development are not taken promptly, delays of at least five to ten years are to be expected, according to the report. At the same time, however, further acceleration is also possible in principle, but would be associated with a significantly increased use of resources and risk.

The interim results developed in the roadmap were compiled as part of the FIRE project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and highlight technical hurdles and formulate interim goals for the path to a fusion power plant.

The complete interim report "Fusion energy in Germany. Development paths to the first fusion power plant" is available on the Acatech website.

Author: Katia Meyer-Tien