Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 26, The US Department of Energy (DOE) has released its Fusion Science and Technology (FS&T) Roadmap, a national strategy designed to accelerate the development and commercialisation of fusion energy by the mid-2030s. Developed with input from over 600 scientists, engineers, and industry stakeholders, the roadmap identifies critical research, materials, and technology gaps that must be addressed to enable a fusion pilot plant (FPP) and strengthen US leadership in the global fusion sector.

The FS&T Roadmap structures the US fusion strategy around three main objectives: build essential infrastructure to close materials and technology gaps; innovate through advanced research, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence; and expand the US fusion ecosystem via 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 noted that the roadmap aligns closely with the 2020 Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (FESAC) Long-Range Plan (LRP). It combines FESAC’s critical science drivers with a renewed public programme within the DOE Office of Science to "define a new era of US fusion energy leadership." The roadmap emphasizes strong alignment between public sector plans and private sector ambitions to deliver fusion power, increasingly enabled by advances in artificial intelligence applied to fusion research.

The roadmap sets key actions for the near-term (2–3 years), mid-term (3–5 years), and long-term (5–10 years), all aligned with the Build–Innovate–Grow strategy and FESAC 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," it states.

DOE highlighted that the roadmap’s success in scaling the domestic private fusion sector by the 2030s depends on future public-private partnerships. Funding levels are not committed and will be subject to Congressional appropriations.

"The Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap brings unprecedented coordination across America's fusion enterprise," said DOE 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."

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."

The roadmap aims to reinforce the US’s domestic energy development, strengthen grid reliability, and advance fusion as a practical source of abundant, reliable energy.