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
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.
The US, Iran, and World Energy Policies, Part 2
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.
IMGs, Capacitors, and the Supply Chain Gap Facing Pulsed Power Fusion
Pulsed power fusion requires tens of thousands of capacitors per facility, but the qualified U.S. manufacturer base is concentrated in a handful of firms and the dominant dielectric material faces hard limits at commercial firing rates. With roughly $2 billion in private capital behind inertial confinement fusion and major procurement timelines compressing, the gap between what fusion developers need and what the industrial base can deliver is becoming a defining challenge for the sector.
Commonwealth Fusion Systems – A Hot Start For 2026
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.
