Editor-in-Chief, The Fusion Report
Inertia Enterprises, co-founded by laser fusion veteran Mike Dunne, is taking a deliberate approach to commercializing the only fusion method that has achieved energy gain. With $450 million in funding, the company is pairing mass-manufactured targets with efficient diode-based lasers and leaning on proven power conversion technology rather than unproven alternatives. It’s a bet that disciplined engineering will get laser ICF to market faster.
Oil at $101 a barrel and swinging $10 a day. The fourth installment of The Fusion Report’s US-Iran series examines what a ceasefire would actually do to prices, why the answer depends on what each side walks away with, and how long any peace is likely to hold.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Commonwealth Fusion Systems entered 2026 with a series of moves signaling operational acceleration. The company confirmed installation of the first of 18 superconducting magnets in SPARC, announced a digital twin collaboration with Siemens and NVIDIA, and debuted at CES to position fusion as near-term commercial technology. CFS also added Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel and former Microsoft/GM CFO Chris Liddell as independent board members, reinforcing governance as the company approaches first plasma.
The U.S. has cut Persian Gulf oil imports to under 10% of its total, but allies like Japan still source 95% of their crude from the region. With war in Iran threatening global oil markets, the case for accelerating alternatives grows stronger regardless of who actually burns the barrels.
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