This Week’s Fusion News: May 22, 2026
May 22, 2026
The Fusion Report sized up where battery energy storage technology is headed and asked whether the next generation of AI-powered robots will run on fusion. The NRC is moving toward a substantially lighter federal review of fusion, Germany joined the EU’s IPCEI on innovative nuclear technologies for fusion only, Singapore’s A*STAR signed a five-year research pact with CFS, Canada backed a fusion-based copper-67 isotope production project, General Fusion brought on capital markets veteran Thomas Boehlert as it prepares for the public markets, and JT-60SA cleared its upgrade cycle and prepared for restart.
Will Next-Generation Artificial Intelligence Robots be Powered by Fusion Energy?
May 21, 2026
Solid State Transformers, the Truth Behind the Hype
/ March 24, 2026
Solid state transformers offer compelling technical advantages over their conventional counterparts, but a price gap of 5-10x keeps them firmly in niche territory. The Fusion Report examines whether the hype around SSTs matches the current market reality.
Fusion covered a lot of ground this week. Bret Baier brought the industry to a primetime Fox News audience, Rochester’s LLE signed its largest ever industrial research agreement with Focused Energy, the UK put £2.5 billion behind a national fusion strategy, and PPPL demonstrated how decades of federally funded code are now directly supporting private reactor design.
NVIDIA GTC, EV Charging Expo, and FIA Policy Conference
/ March 18, 2026
Three major conferences this week highlight the common thread connecting AI compute, electric vehicle infrastructure, and fusion energy policy. From NVIDIA’s Rubin chip efficiency gains to DC fast charger market growth and the FIA’s international policy discussions, the common denominator is energy, and how we source, distribute, and consume it.
Do Environmentalists Really Love Nuclear Fission Now?
/ March 17, 2026
The NRDC surprised the energy world by filing in support of restarting Iowa’s Duane Arnold nuclear plant, which is set to supply carbon-free power for data center operations in the state. The Fusion Report examines what drove this reversal, how rising fossil fuel pollution and surging AI power demand are reshaping the clean energy calculus, and what the tradeoffs mean for the broader electricity landscape.
Multiple Progress Announcements from Realta Fusion/Kyoto Fusioneering and Helical Fusion Today
/ March 16, 2026
Two major fusion announcements in one day: Helical Fusion selects the NIFS campus in Japan for Phase 1 of its Helix HARUKA demonstration device, and Realta Fusion enters a bilateral strategic partnership with Kyoto Fusioneering to bring integrated fusion engineering capabilities to its magnetic mirror program. The Fusion Report covers both stories and sits down with Realta CEO Kieran Furlong to discuss what cross-border collaboration means for the path to commercial fusion.
Pacific Fusion lays out a five-milestone framework for commercial fusion. Oil tops $102 as the U.S.-Iran conflict reshapes global energy. Pulsed power fusion faces a critical capacitor supply chain gap. And Commonwealth Fusion Systems enters 2026 with magnet installation, a Siemens-NVIDIA partnership, and two heavyweight board additions.
Pacific Fusion’s Blueprint to Achieve Commercial Fusion
/ March 13, 2026
Pacific Fusion co-founder and COO Carrie von Muench released a five-milestone framework for measuring the company’s path to commercial fusion energy. Two of the five milestones have already been achieved. The Fusion Report breaks down what each step means and where the industry stands.
Oil prices have surged past $102 a barrel as the U.S.-Iran war disrupts global energy markets. Part 2 of our series examines drone warfare economics, Russia’s oil windfall, China’s strategic reserves, and what the conflict means for the future of fusion energy investment.