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Developed with input from more than 600 scientists, engineers, and industry stakeholders, the roadmap aims to identify the key research, materials, and technology gaps that must be closed to realise a fusion pilot plant (FPP) and strengthen US leadership in the global fusion industry.
The Fusion Science and Technology (FS&T) Roadmap establishes a unified strategy for the US fusion industry built around three primary drivers: build critical infrastructure to close fusion materials and technology gaps; innovate through advanced research, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence; and grow the US fusion ecosystem through public-private partnerships, regional manufacturing hubs, and workforce development.
"With more than USD9 billion in private investment already advancing burning-plasma demonstrations and prototype reactor designs, DOE is coordinating a national effort to close the remaining technical gaps - spanning materials, plasma systems, fuel cycles, and plant engineering," the department said. "Through the Build–Innovate–Grow strategy, DOE and its partners across national laboratories, industry, universities, and allied nations are strengthening domestic supply chains, advancing fusion science, and securing America's leadership in the race to deliver commercial fusion energy. The roadmap outlines DOE's plan to address these challenges through coordinated investments in six core fusion science and technology areas: structural materials, plasma-facing components, confinement systems, fuel cycle, blankets, and plant engineering and integration."
DOE said the roadmap is strongly aligned to the 2020 Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (FESAC) Long-Range Plan (LRP). The roadmap combines the FESAC LRP critical science drivers with a revamped FES public programme in the DOE Office of Science to "define a new era of US fusion energy leadership". The department said this era is characterised by strong alignment between the public sector roadmap and the private sector's stated ambitions to deliver fusion power on an aggressive timeline and is increasingly enabled and accelerated by the revolutionary potential of artificial intelligence-fusion convergence. The roadmap defines key actions to be executed in the near-term (next 2-3 years), mid-term (3-5 years) and long-term (5-10 years), aligned to the Build-Innovate-Grow strategy and to the LRP science drivers.
"Taken together, the roadmap key actions set the course for strategic actions and capability delivery necessary to support a world-leading US fusion ecosystem, while the Technical Roadmap Metrics and Milestones will track progress and ensure these actions are aligned with closing critical scientific and technical challenges progressing toward fusion commercialisation," the roadmap says.
"This approach enables the public programme to remain nimble and prioritise resources with decisions that may require pivoting as fusion developers accelerate towards their technology roadmaps and viable fusion power plant designs, while suppliers advance their innovations, supporting a growing fusion power industry in the US."
DOE said its ability to support this roadmap's milestones and timelines of scaling up the domestic fusion private sector by the 2030s is "contingent on the development of future public private partnerships. This roadmap is not committing DOE to specific funding levels, and future funding will be subject to Congressional appropriations".
The department said the roadmap advances President Donald Trump's Executive Order Unleashing American Energy, reinforcing the Administration's commitment to expand domestic energy production and restore US energy dominance. "By accelerating progress toward commercial fusion power, DOE is strengthening America's grid, rebuilding critical supply chains, and securing a new era of abundant, reliable, American-made energy."
"The Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap brings unprecedented coordination across America's fusion enterprise," said Energy Department Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil. "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 US scientific and industrial base to deliver fusion energy faster than ever before."
Jean Paul Allain, Associate Director of DOE’s Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, added: "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."
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