Things You Gotta Know
DOE Releases Finalized Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap to Accelerate Commercial Fusion Power
The Department of Energy released its finalized Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap, a single national strategy to accelerate the development and commercialization of fusion energy and support fusion pilot plants and commercial fusion power in the mid-2030s. The roadmap was developed with input from more than 800 scientists and engineers across the public and private sectors, reflecting contributions from more than 15 private fusion companies, over 10 national laboratories, and more than 70 universities. It pulls fusion science, technology, infrastructure, workforce development, and commercialization priorities into one plan, and builds on the draft roadmap DOE published in October 2025.
Tennessee Becomes the First State in the Nation to Regulate Fusion Machines
Tennessee became the first U.S. state with its own regulatory framework for fusion machines when its first-in-the-nation fusion regulations took effect on June 9. The technology-neutral framework draws on the state’s 60-plus years of experience as an NRC Agreement State and establishes definitions and licensing requirements for fusion machines and fusion-related operations. Type One Energy’s commercial site near Oak Ridge is expected to be among the first licensees, and construction of its 400 MWe Infinity Two stellarator power plant could begin as early as 2028 under the new rules.
DOE Approves Xcimer Energy’s Athena Fusion Power Plant Preconceptual Design
Xcimer Energy announced the U.S. Department of Energy has formally approved the preconceptual design and technology development roadmap milestone for Athena, the reference architecture for the company’s planned fleet of laser fusion power plants. The Denver-based company’s 724-page submission gave DOE reviewers a detailed assessment of plant performance targets, economics, system-level engineering requirements, and safety and environmental analyses. Athena is designed to run continuously at a repetition rate of up to 1 Hz, with a liquid wall chamber protecting plant structures from fusion emissions over the entire plant lifetime. Next phases include full-scale subsystem testing, engineering validation, and preparation for an integrated plant demonstration.
Thea Energy Births a “Digital Twin” For its Planned Helios Fusion Power Plant
Thea Energy announced on June 8 that it is working with NVIDIA, Synopsys, Argonne National Laboratory, and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory to build a digital twin of Helios, its stellarator power plant planned for the mid-2030s — the first digital twin of a stellarator fusion power plant. NVIDIA brings Omniverse libraries and AI infrastructure, Synopsys a unified multiphysics simulation framework, ANL neutronics and breeding blanket expertise, and PPPL high-fidelity plasma modeling codes. The collaboration aligns with the DOE Genesis Mission and lets Thea iterate and stress-test plant designs virtually — before a shovel goes in the ground.
Realta Fusion’s Hammir-DT Hits Fusion Big-Time!
Realta Fusion unveiled Hammir-DT, its preconceptual design for a deuterium-tritium tandem magnetic mirror power plant producing roughly 500 MW of fusion power (538 MW thermal) and around 200 MWe via direct energy conversion. In an exclusive interview with The Fusion Report, VP of R&D Derek Sutherland calls it the first modern axisymmetric tandem mirror power plant design ever conceived — continuous rather than pulsed, anchored by high-field REBCO magnets from magnet partner Commonwealth Fusion Systems, with stackable center-cell modules spanning 100 MW to 500 MW per unit, CapEx of $1B to $2B, and line of sight to LCOEs below $50/MWh. With $54 million raised to date, Realta will need a significant raise to build the first unit.
Top Fusion Companies by Funding
Tracking 24 private fusion companies and $11.4B in disclosed capital. Last refreshed June 5, 2026 with current funding figures, investor details, and website links for every company.
