In transition: Commercializing fusion power
July 23, 2026, 12:56PMNuclear News
A conceptual model of a laser-based fusion power plant. A key difference from NIF is the ability to inject targets into the chamber rapidly, without needing to insert a long arm to precisely position the target. Targets would enter the chamber from the top at roughly 10 times per second in this model. (Image: Eric Smith)
Commercial fusion power is closer than ever. There are now around 30 U.S. fusion companies, several of which claim to be on track to connect to the grid as early as the 2030s.
Tokamak and laser inertial confinement approaches benefit from decades of research at facilities such as the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and ITER, with alternative concepts including stellarator, magnetic mirror, and Z-pinch confinement also making notable progress as private and government funding for fusion increases.