Power Generation from Nuclear Fusion Not Expected in the Foreseeable Future: Applied Research Developing Dynamically

Abstract

Research into nuclear fusion for military purposes has been regularly conducted since the 1940s. However, the idea of being able to use nuclear power for power generation within mere decades has not come to fruition. While some successes have been highlighted by the media, such as the experiments at the National Ignition Facility in California at the end of 2022, the main problems remain as challenging today as they were in the past. An analysis of expert opinions shows that there is still no concrete path to commercial power generation from nuclear fusion. The former flagship project, the Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), a prime example of the pervasive delays: Conceived by the United States and the Soviet Union in 1985, the research of the ITER project has been repeatedly postponed since the 1990s. As of 2025, the nuclear fusion experiments are not scheduled for operation until the late 2030s. At the same time, new, privately co-financed companies are emerging that focus on specific applications of nuclear fusion, such as the development of magnetic coils and laser technology. German, European, and international research funding must adapt to these new developments and critically scrutinize the large research institutes with regard to the goal of nuclear fusion.