WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Energy announced $134 million in new funding to accelerate the development of fusion technologies, underscoring the administration’s push to keep the United States at the forefront of next-generation energy innovation.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the investments reflect a broader strategy to “unleash American energy, science, and innovation.” “Fusion power holds the promise of limitless, reliable, American-made energy—and programs like INFUSE and FIRE ensure our innovators have the tools, talent, and partnerships to make it a reality,” Wright said.
The bulk of the funding — $128 million — will go to the Fusion Innovative Research Engine, or FIRE, a network of seven collaborative teams designed to build a national fusion innovation ecosystem. The FIRE teams aim to bridge basic research supported by DOE’s Fusion Energy Sciences program with the private sector’s push toward commercial deployment.
An additional $6.1 million will support the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy, or INFUSE, which provides one-year grants to reduce barriers between private fusion companies and national laboratories or universities. This round of funding will back 20 projects, including research in materials science, laser development, superconducting magnet performance, artificial intelligence for fusion modeling, and enabling technologies that could drive down costs.
DOE officials said fusion — the process that powers the sun and stars — has the potential to deliver abundant, carbon-free energy while bolstering U.S. manufacturing, supply chains, and national security. The programs build on directives in the Energy Act of 2020 and align with President Donald Trump’s executive order on expanding domestic energy production.
The FIRE initiative is expected to total up to $220 million over four years, with $31 million allocated in fiscal 2025 and future funding subject to congressional appropriations. INFUSE awards, ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, were selected through competitive peer review managed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.
Officials said the funding marks a significant step toward moving fusion energy from research to reality, positioning the United States to lead in a technology long viewed as the “holy grail” of clean power. A full list of selected projects is available on DOE’s Fusion Energy Sciences program homepage.
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