Global Marketplace Growth for Fusion Energy

Fusion energy powers the sun and stars. Fusion occurs when two light elements combine to form a larger element, releasing vast amounts of energy in the process. Unlike in the stars, where immense heat and gravitational pressures sustain fusion reactions for billions of years, creating the conditions for fusion reactions on Earth requires extreme temperatures and pressures. At these conditions, matter is in the plasma state. A variety of approaches are being pursued to create and control fusion plasmas for use on Earth. These extreme conditions require unique manufacturing, engineering and materials needs and as such, the need to develop a global supply chain to accelerate the path to fusion commercialization. 

The potential impacts of fusion energy can be huge - an energy source based on hydrogen fuel can provide a path to power the next phase of human civilization by decarbonizing electricity and industry processes, mitigating the impacts of climate change, providing energy security and energy independence, and increasing global economic development. As the world is racing to design and build first of a kind fusion power plants, we will need to rapidly develop a thriving fusion supply chain. 

Building a global supply chain to support the unique needs for fusion energy systems: While there are a variety of approaches being pursued, most of these approaches share unique supply chain needs. All require materials that can withstand extreme heat loads and a majority require the ability to be robust to high energy neutron damage. There is a need to establish regional fusion hubs and/or networking tools to bring together suppliers and technology developers to find ways to support fusion energy development. 

There are unique supply chain needs for fusion energy, including but not limited to: high-powered magnets, especially high temperature superconducting magnets, high-power laser components, materials to withstand extreme heat loads and neutron damage, high-powered semiconductors for pulsed power applications, fusion fuel inventory and supporting infrastructure, manufacturing specialists that can spec and deliver unique components to their specifications, etc. An assessment of current manufacturing capabilities and infrastructure that are necessary for fusion energy development will be key along with establishing standardization and regulation to the emerging fusion supply chain. 

Identifying and building a global market for fusion energy systems and other or new emerging markets that will benefit fusion technologies: Fusion has the potential to transform the energy market by providing baseload power as well as process heat to decarbonize industry. There are also additional spin off uses for technology that has been developed to support fusion commercialization such as using fusion generated neutrons to produce short-lived medical isotopes and more recently, investigating using gyrotron technology for geothermal energy. There is a need to start building engagements with industry, consortia, and non-governmental organizations to help understand and respond to the commercial and community engagement needs and to identify applications of these technologies that are being developed around the world and providing a pathway for use outside of home countries.