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
This issue tracks key developments across fusion commercialization. Commonwealth Fusion Systems announced a partnership with Siemens and NVIDIA to build a digital twin of SPARC using industrial software and Omniverse. CFS reiterated its SPARC timeline: completion targeted by end of 2026 and first plasma in 2027, with its ARC plant planned for the early 2030s. Trump Media & Technology Group and TAE Technologies reported they have begun site selection for an initial fusion power plant, with construction anticipated in 2026 following completion of their planned merger. We also cover Avalanche Energy’s new SEC filing for a $14.9M raise and an industry workforce analysis estimating 28,000+ skilled workers needed in the next decade.
TAE and Trump Media – Bull or Bear?
by Shaun Walsh
/ January 6, 2026
The Trump Media-TAE Technologies merger isn’t a simple acquisition. It’s a sophisticated reverse merger transforming a volatile media stock into a diversified hard-tech conglomerate. We break down the $6 billion valuation, the holding company structure, and why early institutional investors like Google, Chevron, and Goldman Sachs are quietly celebrating this unorthodox exit.
Commonwealth Fusion Systems CEO Bob Mumgaard is warning that U.S. fusion infrastructure has stagnated since the 1990s while China coordinates a multi-billion dollar national effort. Meanwhile, fusion startups have now raised $7.1 billion, China’s EAST tokamak set a 1,066-second plasma record, and analysts argue compact fusion could transform Middle East energy security.
As 2025 wraps up, The Fusion Report looks ahead with 10 predictions for fusion energy in 2026. Expect more companies going public, consolidation among fusion machine developers, hyperscalers buying fusion power for AI data centers, and China tripling down on its fusion ambitions. The pace and race for fusion will only accelerate.
What if a real physics breakthrough had happened during The Big Bang Theory’s run? Inspired by Professor Jure Zupan’s paper on axion production in fusion reactors, this AI-assisted script imagines Sheldon and Leonard cracking the code to commercial fusion power. A fun end-of-year read for fans of the show and fusion energy alike.
Trump Media & Technology Group announced a $6 billion merger with TAE Technologies, creating one of the world’s first publicly traded fusion companies. Clean Air Task Force on how the DOE Office of Fusion cn help the industry scale, and Thea Energy completed the preconceptual design for its Helios stellarator power plant.
TAE and Trump Media Deal – A Landmark Day for Fusion Energy
by Shaun Walsh
/ December 18, 2025
Trump Media & Technology Group has announced a $6 billion merger with TAE Technologies, transforming the social media company into a publicly-traded fusion energy play. The deal provides TAE with access to public market liquidity while giving TMTG shareholders exposure to commercial fusion development.
Why Data Centers Are Switching to High-Voltage DC Power
/ December 16, 2025
The 19th-century Current Wars are getting a 21st-century sequel. As AI workloads push rack densities beyond what traditional AC distribution can efficiently handle, data center operators are turning to high-voltage DC power. The efficiency gains are substantial: DC architectures can eliminate up to 20% of energy losses while dramatically reducing the copper and cooling infrastructure required at each rack. Let’s examine the technical drivers behind the shift and who’s leading the transition.