Welcome to our special focus publication on fusion energy, exploring the global race to commercialise fusion power and featuring expert insights, pioneering research, and industry perspectives on shaping a sustainable, carbon-free future.
For decades, fusion energy has been hailed as the pinnacle of clean power. Unlike traditional nuclear fission, which splits heavy atoms, fusion combines light elements – typically isotopes of hydrogen – into heavier ones, releasing vast amounts of energy in the process.
This is the same reaction that powers the Sun, a reminder that the ultimate model for limitless, carbon-free energy has always been above us.
The allure of fusion lies in its promise: virtually inexhaustible fuel sourced from abundant elements, no long-lived radioactive waste, and no risk of runaway reactions.
If realised, it could reshape not just our energy systems but also the very foundations of our global economy and society.
Why fusion energy matters now
The urgency of tackling climate change, coupled with growing global energy demand, makes the pursuit of fusion more critical than ever. Renewable technologies such as wind and solar are indispensable, but they are intermittent.
Fusion offers the prospect of a continuous, reliable, and sustainable power supply –an essential complement to the existing clean energy mix.
At the same time, geopolitical tensions, resource scarcity, and the push for energy security all underscore the need for independent, resilient energy systems.
Fusion power has the potential to meet those needs while accelerating the transition to net zero. What once seemed like an aspiration of science fiction is now within sight of commercial reality.
What to expect inside
This publication brings together leading voices, pioneering organisations, and groundbreaking research projects shaping the future of fusion energy. Each contribution highlights a different dimension of the global race to harness this transformative technology.
- Fusion for Energy reflects on Europe’s position in the international race towards commercialisation, offering insights from a recent Roundtable on whether Europe is ready to lead.
- Researchers at the Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER) explore the balance between physics and engineering, emphasising the importance of self-steering systems in managing the immense complexity of fusion.
- The Fusion Engineering Centre for Doctoral Training showcases how its unique doctoral programme is preparing the next generation of engineers to take fusion from theory to industry.
- Guardian Metal Resources, through its co-funded research, highlights the rising demand for tungsten –a critical material in the design of fusion reactors – and how industry innovation is responding.
- Finally, Eindhoven University of Technology stresses the importance of aligning fusion research with market realities and societal needs, advocating a value-led approach to ensure that fusion not only works in the lab but also thrives in the global energy landscape.
Together, these contributions weave a picture of fusion as not just a scientific pursuit, but a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and international mission.
Forging a fusion future
Fusion energy represents one of humanity’s most ambitious undertakings – an effort to recreate the power of the stars here on Earth.
Success will not come overnight, nor will it come from one country, institution, or company alone. It demands bold investment, patient innovation, and unprecedented global cooperation.
The stakes could not be higher. Fusion has the potential to deliver abundant, safe, and sustainable energy for generations to come, unlocking solutions not only to the climate crisis but also to questions of energy security, economic stability, and social progress.
Harnessing the power of the stars is no longer a distant dream – it is a future within our grasp. Together, we can turn that future into reality.
