The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released its Fusion Science and Technology (FS&T) Roadmap, outlining a national strategy to accelerate the development and commercialization of fusion energy. The goal is to deliver commercial fusion power to the grid by the mid-2030s, aligning public investment with private sector innovation.
The roadmap supports President Trump’s Executive Order Unleashing American Energy, which aims to expand domestic energy production and strengthen U.S. energy independence. By focusing on fusion energy, the DOE seeks to reinforce the nation’s electric grid, rebuild supply chains, and secure a reliable domestic energy source.
Energy Department Under Secretary for Science Dr. Darío Gil stated, “The Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap brings unprecedented coordination across America’s fusion enterprise. For the first time, DOE, industry, and our National Labs will be aligned with a shared purpose—to accelerate the path to commercial fusion power and strengthen America’s leadership in energy innovation. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the Department is streamlining the full strength of the U.S. scientific and industrial base to deliver fusion energy faster than ever before.”
The FS&T Roadmap was introduced during the U.S. Fusion Energy Enterprise Events in Washington, D.C., which gathered representatives from government, industry, and academia to discuss the future of fusion energy in the United States.
Input from over 600 scientists, engineers, and industry stakeholders contributed to the development of the roadmap. It identifies the research, materials, and technology gaps that must be addressed to realize a Fusion Pilot Plant (FPP) and maintain U.S. leadership in the global fusion sector.
The strategy is structured around three main objectives: building critical infrastructure to address technology gaps, innovating through advanced research and technology, and growing the U.S. fusion ecosystem via public-private partnerships and workforce development.
Jean Paul Allain, Associate Director of DOE’s Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, said, “Fusion is real, near, and ready for coordinated action. This roadmap provides the strategic foundation for building the scientific, technical, and industrial base needed to ensure American leadership in commercial fusion on an ambitious timeline.”
Private investment exceeding $9 billion is already supporting burning-plasma demonstrations and prototype reactor designs. The DOE is working with national laboratories, industry, universities, and international partners to close remaining technical gaps in areas such as materials, plasma systems, fuel cycles, and plant engineering. The roadmap details plans for coordinated investments in six key areas: structural materials, plasma-facing components, confinement systems, fuel cycle, blankets, and plant engineering and integration.
The roadmap also emphasizes the importance of public-private partnerships for scaling up the domestic fusion sector by the 2030s. However, the DOE notes that future funding will depend on Congressional appropriations and that the roadmap does not commit the department to specific funding levels.
A full copy of the Fusion Science & Technology Roadmap is available at https://www.energy.gov/fusion-energy.
