- Reports
- Baseline Edition 2026
- Complete edition
Exponential Technology Report 2026: Fusion and Frontier Energy
Exponential Technology
Fusion and Frontier Energy 2026
Imprint
- Editor
- Saeed Valadbaygi, Chief Steward and Managing Editor, the Global Centre for Risk and Innovation (GCRI)
- Publisher of record
- The Global Centre for Risk and Innovation (GCRI) for the Nexus Consortium, Toronto
- Report number
- NR-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE
- Evidence close
- 30 September 2026, cut DC-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-B0
- Status
- Draft under stewardship review; not yet released
- DOI and UNI
- Issued at deposit
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0 for Nexus-authored text, tables and figures; third-party material keeps its own licence
- Cite as
- Valadbaygi, S. (Ed.). (2026). Exponential Technology Report 2026: Fusion and Frontier Energy (Baseline Edition 2026, Report No. NR-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE) [Draft under review]. The Global Centre for Risk and Innovation (GCRI). https://therisk.global/nexus-reports/editions/xt-14/
Contents
- Fusion and Frontier Energy 2026
- Executive summary
Executive summary
The edition on a few pages: the abstract, the key messages, the headline finding and what each steward reads in it.
S.1Abstract
Fusion energy matters to the Nexus programme as a possible future power source and as a present infrastructure question. The experimental record is strong and narrow. The National Ignition Facility produced 8.6 MJ of fusion energy from 2.08 MJ of laser energy delivered to the target on 7 April 2025, a target gain of 4.135. The JET tokamak produced 69 MJ in about 5 seconds in its final deuterium-tritium campaign4. WEST held a plasma for 1,337 seconds in February 20251, and EAST held a high-confinement plasma for 1,066 seconds in January 20252. No source read reports electricity delivered to a grid from fusion. ITER now plans deuterium-tritium operation in 20397. The fuel cycle is the least measured part. Tritium is available commercially from one source, heavy-water reactors, and one analysis finds that the amount free for fusion in 2055 ranges from 0 to 27.7 kg20. Lithium-6, needed for breeding, has effectively no supply today according to one company presentation21. Private investment reached USD 4.48 billion in the 12 months to July 2026, in a survey of 56 companies10. Public programmes expanded in the UK and Germany1516. The US regulator proposed in February 2026 to license fusion machines under the byproduct material framework14. This baseline sets out what the evidence supports and where it is thin. It forecasts no plant date and ranks no country or company.
S.2Key messages
Six readings that frame the fusion baseline, and the eight questions this edition answers, each with its status and source.
Yes at one facility, counting laser energy on target only: 8.6 MJ from 2.08 MJ in 2025.56
Has fusion produced more energy than the laser put in?Reported
WEST held a plasma for 1,337 seconds in 2025; EAST held 1,066 seconds in high confinement.12
What is the longest plasma?Reported
The plan is 2039, with research operation from 2034.7
When will ITER burn deuterium and tritium?Reported
No source read reports it. Companies state plans for 2028 and the early 2030s.2423
Does any fusion plant deliver electricity?Reported
Tritium free for fusion in 2055 ranges from 0 to 27.7 kg; lithium-6 supply is effectively zero today.2021
Is there enough fuel?Reported
USD 4.48 billion of private funding in the 12 months to July 2026, in a survey.10
What does the money look like?Reported
A US rule is proposed to license fusion machines as byproduct material users.14
What does regulation look like?Reported
First-plant fuel: start-up tritium and blanket demonstration. SCN-XT14-FUE-01
What will 2027 test first?Expert input
S.3Headline finding
ReportedEQL 4NRF-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-INF-001
On 7 April 2025 the National Ignition Facility produced 8.6 MJ of fusion energy from 2.08 MJ of laser energy delivered to the target, a target gain of 4.13.
| Item | Bar, scaled to the largest value | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Laser energy delivered to the target | 2.08 | |
| Fusion energy produced | 8.6 |
Source: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory annual report5. Laser energy on target only; facility electricity is not included.
Fusion energy out exceeded laser energy on target by a factor of 4.13. The laboratory lowered the maximum shot energy from 2.2 MJ to 1.9 MJ during refurbishment and plans an upgrade to 2.6 MJ, at which yields above 30 MJ become possible5. The first ignition shot, on 5 December 2022, produced 3.15 MJ from 2.05 MJ6.
S.4At a glance
S.5What each steward reads in it
GCRI · KEY T
Technical Truth
The evidence supports reading fusion as an experiment record and a fuel-cycle question.
GRF · KEY M
Public Meaning
For most people the fusion story arrives as a headline about a record or a start-up.
GRA · KEY F
Capital Meaning
Readiness implications only. Private funding is growing, public programmes are expanding and plant dates are stated for the 2030s.
NEXUS
Synthesis
Fusion is well described by single results and thinly measured as a system.
S.6What this edition is, and is not
What this edition is
A baseline: the 2026 state of fusion and frontier energy as infrastructure and the couplings through which it carries risk into other systems. It synthesises published evidence and ranks no country, company or asset.
What it is not
Not a forecast of when any plant will deliver electricity, a technology ranking, an endorsement of any company or an assessment of any programme. Licensing, funding and fuel allocation are decisions of competent authorities.
What comes next
National, regional and sector evidence feeds the 2027 fusion edition through the federation. Each edition reports what changed against this baseline: observations, source revisions, method changes, scenario updates and corrections.
Notes
Numbers are the edition’s reference numbers, so a note reads the same in every chapter. The full list, with every source and its licence, is in Annex C. Annex C, references
- 5Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (ed.), National Ignition Facility 2025 (annual report page; 8.6 MJ on 7 April 2025 from 2.08 MJ delivered, target gain 4.13; refurbishment and enhanced yield capability to 2.6 MJ). Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 4World Nuclear News (ed.), New world record set in JET final fusion experiments (news report of 9 February 2024; 69 MJ over 5 seconds from 0.2 milligrams of fuel; 59 MJ in 2021). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 1CEA IRFM (ed.), WEST sets a new plasma duration record (news page; plasma 61299, 12 February 2025, 1,337 seconds, 2 MW lower hybrid heating, 2.6 GJ injected and extracted). Commissariat a l energie atomique et aux energies alternatives, Cadarache. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 2Physics World (ed.), China experimental advanced superconducting tokamak smashes fusion confinement record (news report; EAST 1066 seconds in high confinement, January 2025; earlier 403 seconds in 2023). IOP Publishing, Bristol. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 7ITER Organization (ed.), ITER in a few lines (project page; baseline reviewed by the ITER Council in November 2024; start of research operation 2034; deuterium-tritium operation 2039; Q of 10, 500 MW from 50 MW). ITER Organization, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 20Coleman, M. and Kovari, M., Global supply of tritium for fusion R and D from heavy water reactors (conference paper, UK Atomic Energy Authority; abstract and introduction read from the PDF; 0 to 27.7 kg available in 2055 across scenarios; 7.4 kg for a demonstration reactor in 2055 in one case). UK Atomic Energy Authority, Abingdon. Observation year 2018. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 21Pearson, R.J., The availability and supply of critical natural resources for the realisation of a fusion pilot plant: fuels for fusion (presentation to the US Department of Energy fusion workshop, 1 to 3 June 2022; lithium-6 is 7.4% of natural lithium; blankets need 30 to 90%; supply effectively zero; a company presentation, weak evidence). Kyoto Fusioneering, London. Observation year 2022. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 10World Nuclear News (ed.), Fusion industry raised USD4.5 billion in past year, report says (14 July 2026; Fusion Industry Association 2026 survey: USD 4.48 billion in 12 months, USD 14.24 billion cumulative, 56 companies; an industry survey, weak evidence). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 15UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (ed.), A new energy revolution: the UK plan for delivering fusion energy (policy paper of 16 March 2026; over GBP 2.5 billion over five years; GBP 1.3 billion for STEP and UK Fusion Energy; the first 100,000 of 127,790 characters were read). UK Government, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 16Clean Energy Wire (ed.), German government pledges more than EUR 2 bln for nuclear fusion (news report of 2 October 2025; cabinet plan of 1 October 2025). Clean Energy Wire, Berlin. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 14US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (ed.), Federal Register notice of 26 February 2026, proposed rule on regulatory framework for fusion machines (10 CFR part 30; comments due 27 May 2026; the first 100,000 of 168,363 characters were read). Office of the Federal Register, Washington. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 6Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (ed.), NIF fusion ignition shot hailed as historic scientific feat (news page; shot of 5 December 2022, 3.15 MJ from 2.05 MJ; announced 13 December 2022). Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore. Observation year 2022. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 24Helion (ed.), Orion, the first fusion power plant (company page; Malaga, Washington; construction from 2025; initial operations stated for 2028; Microsoft agreement for 50 MW; a vendor announcement, weak evidence). Helion Energy, Everett. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 23Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Eni (eds.), Eni and CFS sign over USD 1 billion power purchase agreement (joint company release of 22 September 2025; 400 MW ARC plant in Chesterfield County, Virginia; grid connection in the early 2030s; a vendor announcement, weak evidence). Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Devens. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 9World Nuclear News (ed.), Fusion entering implementation phase, says Grossi (report on the IAEA World Fusion Outlook 2025; more than 160 devices; private investment above USD 10 billion; October 2025). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- Fusion and Frontier Energy 2026
- Chapter 1
Fusion is an experiment record and a fuel-cycle question
Part I describes systems and their couplings. It ranks no country or operator and assesses no authority.
1.1The questions this part answers
Key questions
- Where is fusion risk concentrated?
- Which couplings carry fusion shocks into other systems?
- Which fusion capabilities hold under compound stress?
- What must 2027 evidence measure first?
In this part
- Narrative
- Headline finding
- Lead figure
- Five footprint and governance chapters
- Twelve-domain reading
- Sector screens
- Dependency matrix
- Risk objects
- Capability ladder
- Scenario
- Three lenses
- Portfolio
1.2The argument
Fusion is usually discussed as a race to a first power plant. The 2026 evidence reads it as two things: a set of strong experimental records at research devices, and a set of infrastructure questions about fuel, materials, licensing and money that decide whether plants follow52014.
The experimental evidence is strong and narrow. NIF produced 8.6 MJ from 2.08 MJ of laser energy on target5. JET produced 69 MJ over about 5 seconds4. WEST held a plasma for 1,337 seconds1. Each is a different quantity on a different device, and none is electricity to a grid.
The schedule evidence is plain. ITER plans deuterium-tritium operation in 20397. Companies state plants for 2028 and the early 2030s2423. The US roadmap targets power by the mid-2030s12. These are plans, and the baselines of public projects have moved before25.
The fuel cycle is the least measured part. Tritium is available from heavy-water reactors only, and the amount free for fusion in 2055 ranges from 0 to 27.7 kg20. Lithium-6 supply is effectively zero according to one presentation21. Licensing is moving: the US rule is proposed14.
Plasma duration in tokamaks rose from 403 seconds to 1,337 seconds in two years. Duration is not fusion power: WEST used 2 MW of heating in hydrogen, and the devices differ in regime and size12.
| Item | Bar, scaled to the largest value | Value |
|---|---|---|
| EAST, high confinement, 2023 | 403 | |
| EAST, high confinement, January 2025 | 1066 | |
| WEST, February 2025 | 1337 |
Source: as cited in the note to this figure. Year 2025.
Figure ID FIG-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-01-003
1.3Twenty couplings between five systems
The fusion-centred matrix types the twenty couplings between the five core systems, read for their fusion content. Strengths are Nexus estimates (ESTIMATED) from the cited evidence and analogue events; they set the graph that 2027 evidence will test.
Each line is one coupling from one system to another, drawn by the strength the edition assigns. Strengths are Nexus estimates from the cited evidence and analogue events.
- Strong
- Moderate
- Weak
Source: this edition’s coupling matrix (Table 1.1); status Estimated.
| From, to | WAT | ENE | FOO | HLT | BIO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAT Water | · | WEAK plant cooling | WEAK no documented link | WEAK no documented link | WEAK no documented link |
| ENE Energy | WEAK cooling load | · | WEAK no documented link | WEAK no documented link | WEAK no documented link |
| FOO Food | WEAK no documented link | WEAK no documented link | · | WEAK no documented link | WEAK no documented link |
| HLT Health | WEAK workforce | WEAK workforce | WEAK no documented link | · | WEAK no documented link |
| BIO Biodiversity | WEAK no documented link | WEAK no documented link | WEAK no documented link | WEAK no documented link | · |
| Strength: strong, moderate or weak; a Nexus estimate (status Estimated) from cited evidence and analogue events. The scale is defined in Annex A. | |||||
Transmission paths
- 01
MIN → INF
A tritium or lithium-6 shortfall delays first plants.
- 02
FIN → INF
Private and public funding pay for devices and test facilities.
Reported USD 4.48 billion, 202610
- 03
GOV → INF
Licensing rules set the route and timing for first plants.
Reported US proposed rule14
- 04
INF → ENE
A successful plant would add firm power; none is documented.
- 05
ENE → INF
Facility electricity limits what a shot or pulse means.
Notes
Numbers are the edition’s reference numbers, so a note reads the same in every chapter. The full list, with every source and its licence, is in Annex C. Annex C, references
- 5Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (ed.), National Ignition Facility 2025 (annual report page; 8.6 MJ on 7 April 2025 from 2.08 MJ delivered, target gain 4.13; refurbishment and enhanced yield capability to 2.6 MJ). Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 20Coleman, M. and Kovari, M., Global supply of tritium for fusion R and D from heavy water reactors (conference paper, UK Atomic Energy Authority; abstract and introduction read from the PDF; 0 to 27.7 kg available in 2055 across scenarios; 7.4 kg for a demonstration reactor in 2055 in one case). UK Atomic Energy Authority, Abingdon. Observation year 2018. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 14US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (ed.), Federal Register notice of 26 February 2026, proposed rule on regulatory framework for fusion machines (10 CFR part 30; comments due 27 May 2026; the first 100,000 of 168,363 characters were read). Office of the Federal Register, Washington. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 4World Nuclear News (ed.), New world record set in JET final fusion experiments (news report of 9 February 2024; 69 MJ over 5 seconds from 0.2 milligrams of fuel; 59 MJ in 2021). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 1CEA IRFM (ed.), WEST sets a new plasma duration record (news page; plasma 61299, 12 February 2025, 1,337 seconds, 2 MW lower hybrid heating, 2.6 GJ injected and extracted). Commissariat a l energie atomique et aux energies alternatives, Cadarache. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 7ITER Organization (ed.), ITER in a few lines (project page; baseline reviewed by the ITER Council in November 2024; start of research operation 2034; deuterium-tritium operation 2039; Q of 10, 500 MW from 50 MW). ITER Organization, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 24Helion (ed.), Orion, the first fusion power plant (company page; Malaga, Washington; construction from 2025; initial operations stated for 2028; Microsoft agreement for 50 MW; a vendor announcement, weak evidence). Helion Energy, Everett. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 23Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Eni (eds.), Eni and CFS sign over USD 1 billion power purchase agreement (joint company release of 22 September 2025; 400 MW ARC plant in Chesterfield County, Virginia; grid connection in the early 2030s; a vendor announcement, weak evidence). Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Devens. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 12US Department of Energy (ed.), Energy Department announces Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap to accelerate commercial fusion power (announcement of 16 October 2025; Build-Innovate-Grow; power on the grid by the mid-2030s; no funding commitment). US Department of Energy, Washington. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 25Physics Today (ed.), ITER costs are pinned down with caveats (news report on the 2016 baseline review; review committee chaired by A. Wagner; estimate without contingencies). American Institute of Physics, College Park. Observation year 2016. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 21Pearson, R.J., The availability and supply of critical natural resources for the realisation of a fusion pilot plant: fuels for fusion (presentation to the US Department of Energy fusion workshop, 1 to 3 June 2022; lithium-6 is 7.4% of natural lithium; blankets need 30 to 90%; supply effectively zero; a company presentation, weak evidence). Kyoto Fusioneering, London. Observation year 2022. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 2Physics World (ed.), China experimental advanced superconducting tokamak smashes fusion confinement record (news report; EAST 1066 seconds in high confinement, January 2025; earlier 403 seconds in 2023). IOP Publishing, Bristol. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 10World Nuclear News (ed.), Fusion industry raised USD4.5 billion in past year, report says (14 July 2026; Fusion Industry Association 2026 survey: USD 4.48 billion in 12 months, USD 14.24 billion cumulative, 56 companies; an industry survey, weak evidence). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- Fusion and Frontier Energy 2026
- Chapter 2
Key findings
Twelve findings carry the fusion baseline. They are grouped by coupling and never ranked. Each resolves to its source or, where Nexus analysis is involved, to its stated method.
2.1Headline finding
ReportedEQL 4NRF-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-INF-001
On 7 April 2025 the National Ignition Facility produced 8.6 MJ of fusion energy from 2.08 MJ of laser energy delivered to the target, a target gain of 4.13.
| Item | Bar, scaled to the largest value | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Laser energy delivered to the target | 2.08 | |
| Fusion energy produced | 8.6 |
Source: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory annual report5. Laser energy on target only; facility electricity is not included.
Implication
Fusion energy out exceeded laser energy on target by a factor of 4.13. The laboratory lowered the maximum shot energy from 2.2 MJ to 1.9 MJ during refurbishment and plans an upgrade to 2.6 MJ, at which yields above 30 MJ become possible5. The first ignition shot, on 5 December 2022, produced 3.15 MJ from 2.05 MJ6.
What would move it
Refurbishment, the yield upgrade, repeat shots and a facility electricity figure would each move this finding.
2.2Infrastructure
ReportedEQL 4NRF-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-INF-001
On 7 April 2025 the National Ignition Facility produced 8.6 MJ of fusion energy from 2.08 MJ of laser energy delivered to the target, a target gain of 4.13; the first ignition shot of December 2022 produced 3.15 MJ from 2.05 MJ.56
ReportedEQL 4NRF-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-INF-002
In its final deuterium-tritium campaign the JET tokamak produced 69 MJ over about 5 seconds from 0.2 milligrams of fuel, up from 59 MJ in 2021; the result was announced on 9 February 2024.4
ReportedEQL 4NRF-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-INF-003
WEST held a hydrogen plasma for 1,337 seconds on 12 February 2025 with 2 MW of heating, and EAST held a high-confinement plasma for 1,066 seconds in January 2025.12
ReportedEQL 3NRF-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-INF-004
Wendelstein 7-X set a record for the triple product in long plasma pulses, held for 43 seconds, in a campaign that ended on 22 May 2025; tokamaks remain the record holders for short pulses.3
ReportedEQL 4NRF-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-INF-005
ITER plans deuterium-tritium operation in 2039, four years later than the 2016 reference plan, with research operation from 2034 and a target of 500 MW of fusion power from 50 MW of heating.725
2.3Minerals
ReportedEQL 3NRF-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-MIN-006
Heavy-water reactors are the only commercial source of tritium; one analysis finds the amount free for fusion in 2055 ranges from 0 to 27.7 kg across scenarios, and policy commentary puts civilian stocks near 25 kg in 2024.2022
ReportedEQL 2NRF-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-MIN-007
Breeding blankets need lithium enriched to 30 to 90% lithium-6, natural lithium holds 7.4%, and one company presentation states that current supply of lithium-6 is effectively zero.2133
2.4Finance
ReportedEQL 2NRF-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-FIN-008
Private fusion funding was USD 4.48 billion in the 12 months to July 2026 and USD 14.24 billion cumulative over six years, in a survey of 56 companies; the 2025 survey reported USD 2.64 billion and USD 9.766 billion across 53 companies.1011
ReportedEQL 4NRF-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-FIN-009
Public programmes expanded: the UK strategy of March 2026 states over GBP 2.5 billion over five years, Germany states over EUR 2 billion by 2029, and China Fusion Energy Co. was set up with 15 billion yuan of registered capital.15161719
ReportedEQL 2NRF-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-FIN-011
Two companies state plans for first plants: Helion states initial operations in 2028 at a site in Washington State, and Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Eni state a 400 MW plant in Virginia connecting in the early 2030s. These are company statements, not results.232428
2.5Governance
ReportedEQL 4NRF-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-GOV-010
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposed on 26 February 2026 to license fusion machines under the byproduct material framework of 10 CFR part 30, with comments due on 27 May 2026; the Department of Energy roadmap of 16 October 2025 targets power on the grid by the mid-2030s.1412
2.6Systemic
Expert inputEQL 2NRF-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-SYS-012
The leading compound pathway for 2027 testing is first-plant fuel: start-up tritium and blanket demonstration set the pace while plant dates are stated in the 2030s. § scenario
Notes
Numbers are the edition’s reference numbers, so a note reads the same in every chapter. The full list, with every source and its licence, is in Annex C. Annex C, references
- 5Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (ed.), National Ignition Facility 2025 (annual report page; 8.6 MJ on 7 April 2025 from 2.08 MJ delivered, target gain 4.13; refurbishment and enhanced yield capability to 2.6 MJ). Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 6Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (ed.), NIF fusion ignition shot hailed as historic scientific feat (news page; shot of 5 December 2022, 3.15 MJ from 2.05 MJ; announced 13 December 2022). Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore. Observation year 2022. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 4World Nuclear News (ed.), New world record set in JET final fusion experiments (news report of 9 February 2024; 69 MJ over 5 seconds from 0.2 milligrams of fuel; 59 MJ in 2021). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 1CEA IRFM (ed.), WEST sets a new plasma duration record (news page; plasma 61299, 12 February 2025, 1,337 seconds, 2 MW lower hybrid heating, 2.6 GJ injected and extracted). Commissariat a l energie atomique et aux energies alternatives, Cadarache. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 2Physics World (ed.), China experimental advanced superconducting tokamak smashes fusion confinement record (news report; EAST 1066 seconds in high confinement, January 2025; earlier 403 seconds in 2023). IOP Publishing, Bristol. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 3World Nuclear News (ed.), Wendelstein 7-X sets new fusion performance records (news report of 4 June 2025; long-pulse triple product held for 43 seconds; announcement by the research institute and EUROfusion; peer-reviewed article not yet published at announcement). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 7ITER Organization (ed.), ITER in a few lines (project page; baseline reviewed by the ITER Council in November 2024; start of research operation 2034; deuterium-tritium operation 2039; Q of 10, 500 MW from 50 MW). ITER Organization, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 25Physics Today (ed.), ITER costs are pinned down with caveats (news report on the 2016 baseline review; review committee chaired by A. Wagner; estimate without contingencies). American Institute of Physics, College Park. Observation year 2016. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 20Coleman, M. and Kovari, M., Global supply of tritium for fusion R and D from heavy water reactors (conference paper, UK Atomic Energy Authority; abstract and introduction read from the PDF; 0 to 27.7 kg available in 2055 across scenarios; 7.4 kg for a demonstration reactor in 2055 in one case). UK Atomic Energy Authority, Abingdon. Observation year 2018. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 22Theiding, T., Tritium: a few kilograms can make or break nuclear fusion (policy blog post of 6 March 2025; about 25 kg of civilian tritium in 2024; a student fellow commentary, weak evidence). Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 21Pearson, R.J., The availability and supply of critical natural resources for the realisation of a fusion pilot plant: fuels for fusion (presentation to the US Department of Energy fusion workshop, 1 to 3 June 2022; lithium-6 is 7.4% of natural lithium; blankets need 30 to 90%; supply effectively zero; a company presentation, weak evidence). Kyoto Fusioneering, London. Observation year 2022. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 33UNVERIFIED, not opened: Ward, P. and colleagues, Lithium enrichment threatens to curb fusion deployment, arXiv:2605.04707, 2026, taken from search-result summaries. arXiv, Ithaca. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 10World Nuclear News (ed.), Fusion industry raised USD4.5 billion in past year, report says (14 July 2026; Fusion Industry Association 2026 survey: USD 4.48 billion in 12 months, USD 14.24 billion cumulative, 56 companies; an industry survey, weak evidence). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 11World Nuclear News (ed.), Access to funding remains a major issue for fusion, says FIA (report on the Fusion Industry Association 2025 survey of 23 July 2025: USD 2.64 billion, USD 9.766 billion cumulative, 53 companies; an industry survey, weak evidence). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 15UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (ed.), A new energy revolution: the UK plan for delivering fusion energy (policy paper of 16 March 2026; over GBP 2.5 billion over five years; GBP 1.3 billion for STEP and UK Fusion Energy; the first 100,000 of 127,790 characters were read). UK Government, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 16Clean Energy Wire (ed.), German government pledges more than EUR 2 bln for nuclear fusion (news report of 2 October 2025; cabinet plan of 1 October 2025). Clean Energy Wire, Berlin. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 17World Nuclear News (ed.), Germany boosts funding for fusion research (news report; Fusion Action Plan of October 2025; more than EUR 2 billion by 2029; about EUR 1.7 billion public research funding and up to EUR 755 million from an infrastructure fund). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 19American Nuclear Society (ed.), China launches fusion-focused company (news report of 30 July 2025; China Fusion Energy Co., 15 billion yuan registered capital, subsidiary of a state nuclear group; BEST tokamak in Hefei hoped for 2027). American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 23Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Eni (eds.), Eni and CFS sign over USD 1 billion power purchase agreement (joint company release of 22 September 2025; 400 MW ARC plant in Chesterfield County, Virginia; grid connection in the early 2030s; a vendor announcement, weak evidence). Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Devens. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 24Helion (ed.), Orion, the first fusion power plant (company page; Malaga, Washington; construction from 2025; initial operations stated for 2028; Microsoft agreement for 50 MW; a vendor announcement, weak evidence). Helion Energy, Everett. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 28UNVERIFIED, not opened: Helion (ed.), Helion secures land and begins building on the site of the first fusion power plant, release of 30 July 2025 (the release page returned a block) and the 2023 Microsoft agreement, taken from search-result summaries. Helion Energy, Everett. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 14US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (ed.), Federal Register notice of 26 February 2026, proposed rule on regulatory framework for fusion machines (10 CFR part 30; comments due 27 May 2026; the first 100,000 of 168,363 characters were read). Office of the Federal Register, Washington. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 12US Department of Energy (ed.), Energy Department announces Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap to accelerate commercial fusion power (announcement of 16 October 2025; Build-Innovate-Grow; power on the grid by the mid-2030s; no funding commitment). US Department of Energy, Washington. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- Fusion and Frontier Energy 2026
- Chapter 3
Systems and sectors at baseline
3.1Where each system stood at evidence close
INF · Inertial
Record target gain at the National Ignition Facility
4.13times8.6 MJ from 2.08 MJ of laser energy on target.
Reported2025LLNL5
INF · Magnetic
Longest plasma in the WEST tokamak
1,337secondshydrogen plasma, 2 MW of heating; not a fusion power result.
Reported2025CEA1
FIN · Finance
Private fusion funding in the 12 months to July 2026
4.48USD billionsurvey of 56 companies; self-reported.
Reported2026FIA via news10
MIN · Fuel
Civilian tritium worldwide, one estimate
≈25kgpolicy commentary, mostly held by one country; weak evidence.
Reported2024Kleinman22
SYS · Cross-system
Start of deuterium-tritium operation at ITER
2039yeara plan, four years later than the 2016 reference plan.
Reported2039 planITER7
GOV · Public funding
UK government fusion funding over five years
>2.5GBP billionstrategy of March 2026; 1.3 billion for STEP and UK Fusion Energy.
Reported2026UK strategy15
3.2Domain posture
Each of the twelve coupled domains is read through fusion, in words, not scored. The coupling column names the dependency that carries fusion risk into each domain.
| Domain | Posture at baseline | Coupling | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAT | Plant cooling-water use is not published for any fusion plant design read. | ENE → WAT | Expert input EQL 1 |
| ENE | No source read reports electricity delivered from fusion; experiments report energy on target or injected. | the core system | Reported EQL 4 |
| FOO | No documented coupling at baseline. | none documented | Expert input EQL 1 |
| HLT | No documented coupling at baseline; tritium handling is an occupational question not evidenced here. | none documented | Expert input EQL 1 |
| BIO | No documented coupling at baseline. | none documented | Expert input EQL 1 |
| CLI | Fusion would matter for climate only at scale; no figure is bound. | ENE → CLI | Expert input EQL 1 |
| INF | The core system: records at research devices; ITER deuterium-tritium plan for 2039; plants stated for the 2030s. | the core system | Reported EQL 4 |
| FIN | USD 4.48 billion of private funding in the 12 months to July 2026; public programmes expanded. | FIN → INF | Reported EQL 3 |
| DAT | Fusion couples to data only through diagnostics and control; no figure is bound. | none documented | Expert input EQL 1 |
| AIC | No documented coupling to compute platforms at baseline. | none documented | Expert input EQL 1 |
| MIN | Tritium comes from heavy-water reactors; lithium-6 supply is effectively zero according to one presentation. | MIN → INF | Reported EQL 3 |
| TRD | Export controls and transport rules apply to tritium and enriched lithium. | INF ↔ TRD | Inferred EQL 2 |
3.3Sector screens
All sixteen sectors are screened for their dependence on fusion, on the same grammar as every national edition. The evidence column describes coverage of the baseline evidence, not the performance of the sector.
| Code | Sector | Baseline evidence | Exposure to watch | Evidence coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-00 | Cross-system | fusion couples to energy, minerals and materials | first-plant fuel | THIN |
| GS-01 | Water | plant cooling-water use not published | siting | THIN |
| GS-02 | Energy | no electricity delivered from fusion in sources read2423 | plant dates move | THIN |
| GS-03 | Food | no documented coupling | none documented | THIN |
| GS-04 | Health | no documented coupling | none documented | THIN |
| GS-05 | Finance | USD 4.48 billion of private funding10 | funding concentration | PARTIAL |
| GS-06 | Development | access to technology and skills | widening gaps | THIN |
| GS-07 | Climate | contribution at scale not bound | plant timing | THIN |
| GS-08 | Disaster | no documented coupling | none documented | THIN |
| GS-09 | Infrastructure | tritium handling and plant sites | single-site dependence | THIN |
| GS-10 | Cities | no documented coupling | none documented | THIN |
| GS-11 | Biodiversity | no documented coupling | none documented | THIN |
| GS-12 | Earth observation | no documented coupling | none documented | THIN |
| GS-13 | Cyber and digital | no documented coupling | none documented | THIN |
| GS-14 | Policy | US rule proposed; UK and German plans141516 | rules not final | PARTIAL |
| GS-15 | Science | strong laboratory record145 | common benchmarks | GOOD |
Notes
Numbers are the edition’s reference numbers, so a note reads the same in every chapter. The full list, with every source and its licence, is in Annex C. Annex C, references
- 5Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (ed.), National Ignition Facility 2025 (annual report page; 8.6 MJ on 7 April 2025 from 2.08 MJ delivered, target gain 4.13; refurbishment and enhanced yield capability to 2.6 MJ). Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 1CEA IRFM (ed.), WEST sets a new plasma duration record (news page; plasma 61299, 12 February 2025, 1,337 seconds, 2 MW lower hybrid heating, 2.6 GJ injected and extracted). Commissariat a l energie atomique et aux energies alternatives, Cadarache. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 10World Nuclear News (ed.), Fusion industry raised USD4.5 billion in past year, report says (14 July 2026; Fusion Industry Association 2026 survey: USD 4.48 billion in 12 months, USD 14.24 billion cumulative, 56 companies; an industry survey, weak evidence). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 22Theiding, T., Tritium: a few kilograms can make or break nuclear fusion (policy blog post of 6 March 2025; about 25 kg of civilian tritium in 2024; a student fellow commentary, weak evidence). Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 7ITER Organization (ed.), ITER in a few lines (project page; baseline reviewed by the ITER Council in November 2024; start of research operation 2034; deuterium-tritium operation 2039; Q of 10, 500 MW from 50 MW). ITER Organization, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 15UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (ed.), A new energy revolution: the UK plan for delivering fusion energy (policy paper of 16 March 2026; over GBP 2.5 billion over five years; GBP 1.3 billion for STEP and UK Fusion Energy; the first 100,000 of 127,790 characters were read). UK Government, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 24Helion (ed.), Orion, the first fusion power plant (company page; Malaga, Washington; construction from 2025; initial operations stated for 2028; Microsoft agreement for 50 MW; a vendor announcement, weak evidence). Helion Energy, Everett. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 23Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Eni (eds.), Eni and CFS sign over USD 1 billion power purchase agreement (joint company release of 22 September 2025; 400 MW ARC plant in Chesterfield County, Virginia; grid connection in the early 2030s; a vendor announcement, weak evidence). Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Devens. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 14US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (ed.), Federal Register notice of 26 February 2026, proposed rule on regulatory framework for fusion machines (10 CFR part 30; comments due 27 May 2026; the first 100,000 of 168,363 characters were read). Office of the Federal Register, Washington. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 16Clean Energy Wire (ed.), German government pledges more than EUR 2 bln for nuclear fusion (news report of 2 October 2025; cabinet plan of 1 October 2025). Clean Energy Wire, Berlin. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 4World Nuclear News (ed.), New world record set in JET final fusion experiments (news report of 9 February 2024; 69 MJ over 5 seconds from 0.2 milligrams of fuel; 59 MJ in 2021). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- Fusion and Frontier Energy 2026
- Chapter 4
Risks and capability
Four fusion risk objects open the portfolio. Order carries no rank. Each is read across driver, exposure, vulnerability, capacity, cascade and consequence.
4.1Risk objects
Each risk is read across the chain from hazard to consequence, with its status and evidence-quality level.
InferredEQL 3RSK-XT14-FUE-001
Tritium start-up supply
InferredEQL 2RSK-XT14-LIT-002
Lithium-6 enrichment and blanket demonstration
InferredEQL 3RSK-XT14-SCH-003
Schedule slippage in large public projects
InferredEQL 3RSK-XT14-GOV-004
Licensing and waste rules not final
4.2Capability ladder
Existence is not readiness. Each of the fifteen capability functions is placed on the ladder by the strongest public evidence for fusion at the global level.
| Function | Rung | Level | Strongest public evidence at baseline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prevention and mitigation | LISTED | safety case and licensing rules are proposed or in preparation14 | |
| Monitoring and observation | LISTED | no common tracker of performance claims or fuel inventories | |
| Early warning | LISTED | schedule and supply watching is not consolidated | |
| Preparedness and planning | EXISTS | US roadmap, UK strategy and German plan published121516 | |
| Redundancy and reserves | LISTED | tritium and lithium-6 reserves are not documented21 | |
| Response | LISTED | not applicable at baseline; no plant in operation | |
| Continuity of critical services | LISTED | not applicable at baseline | |
| Recovery | LISTED | not applicable at baseline | |
| Adaptation | LISTED | staged project plans exist7; no tested adaptation | |
| Social protection | LISTED | not applicable at baseline | |
| Finance and insurance | EXISTS | private funding large and public programmes growing1015 | |
| Institutional coordination | EXISTS | ITER, the IAEA group and national strategies7918 | |
| Technical infrastructure | EXISTS | research devices operating at several sites145 | |
| Workforce | LISTED | skills programmes announced15; no figure bound | |
| Research capacity | ADEQUATE | strong laboratory and journal base5353646 | |
| A capability listed in policy is not a tested one; each rung is the strongest public evidence at baseline. | |||
Notes
Numbers are the edition’s reference numbers, so a note reads the same in every chapter. The full list, with every source and its licence, is in Annex C. Annex C, references
- 20Coleman, M. and Kovari, M., Global supply of tritium for fusion R and D from heavy water reactors (conference paper, UK Atomic Energy Authority; abstract and introduction read from the PDF; 0 to 27.7 kg available in 2055 across scenarios; 7.4 kg for a demonstration reactor in 2055 in one case). UK Atomic Energy Authority, Abingdon. Observation year 2018. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 22Theiding, T., Tritium: a few kilograms can make or break nuclear fusion (policy blog post of 6 March 2025; about 25 kg of civilian tritium in 2024; a student fellow commentary, weak evidence). Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 21Pearson, R.J., The availability and supply of critical natural resources for the realisation of a fusion pilot plant: fuels for fusion (presentation to the US Department of Energy fusion workshop, 1 to 3 June 2022; lithium-6 is 7.4% of natural lithium; blankets need 30 to 90%; supply effectively zero; a company presentation, weak evidence). Kyoto Fusioneering, London. Observation year 2022. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 33UNVERIFIED, not opened: Ward, P. and colleagues, Lithium enrichment threatens to curb fusion deployment, arXiv:2605.04707, 2026, taken from search-result summaries. arXiv, Ithaca. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 7ITER Organization (ed.), ITER in a few lines (project page; baseline reviewed by the ITER Council in November 2024; start of research operation 2034; deuterium-tritium operation 2039; Q of 10, 500 MW from 50 MW). ITER Organization, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 25Physics Today (ed.), ITER costs are pinned down with caveats (news report on the 2016 baseline review; review committee chaired by A. Wagner; estimate without contingencies). American Institute of Physics, College Park. Observation year 2016. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 14US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (ed.), Federal Register notice of 26 February 2026, proposed rule on regulatory framework for fusion machines (10 CFR part 30; comments due 27 May 2026; the first 100,000 of 168,363 characters were read). Office of the Federal Register, Washington. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 15UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (ed.), A new energy revolution: the UK plan for delivering fusion energy (policy paper of 16 March 2026; over GBP 2.5 billion over five years; GBP 1.3 billion for STEP and UK Fusion Energy; the first 100,000 of 127,790 characters were read). UK Government, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 18European Commission (ed.), Commission launches call for evidence to support first-ever EU-wide fusion strategy (news item of 6 June 2025; call open to 1 July 2025; strategy then programmed for the end of 2025). Directorate-General for Energy, Brussels. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 12US Department of Energy (ed.), Energy Department announces Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap to accelerate commercial fusion power (announcement of 16 October 2025; Build-Innovate-Grow; power on the grid by the mid-2030s; no funding commitment). US Department of Energy, Washington. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 16Clean Energy Wire (ed.), German government pledges more than EUR 2 bln for nuclear fusion (news report of 2 October 2025; cabinet plan of 1 October 2025). Clean Energy Wire, Berlin. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 10World Nuclear News (ed.), Fusion industry raised USD4.5 billion in past year, report says (14 July 2026; Fusion Industry Association 2026 survey: USD 4.48 billion in 12 months, USD 14.24 billion cumulative, 56 companies; an industry survey, weak evidence). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 9World Nuclear News (ed.), Fusion entering implementation phase, says Grossi (report on the IAEA World Fusion Outlook 2025; more than 160 devices; private investment above USD 10 billion; October 2025). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 1CEA IRFM (ed.), WEST sets a new plasma duration record (news page; plasma 61299, 12 February 2025, 1,337 seconds, 2 MW lower hybrid heating, 2.6 GJ injected and extracted). Commissariat a l energie atomique et aux energies alternatives, Cadarache. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 4World Nuclear News (ed.), New world record set in JET final fusion experiments (news report of 9 February 2024; 69 MJ over 5 seconds from 0.2 milligrams of fuel; 59 MJ in 2021). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 5Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (ed.), National Ignition Facility 2025 (annual report page; 8.6 MJ on 7 April 2025 from 2.08 MJ delivered, target gain 4.13; refurbishment and enhanced yield capability to 2.6 MJ). Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 35UNVERIFIED, not opened: Zylstra, A.B. et al., Burning plasma achieved in inertial fusion, Nature 601, 542 to 548, 2022, cited from memory. Observation year 2022. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 36UNVERIFIED, not opened: Abu-Shawareb, H. et al., Achievement of target gain larger than unity in an inertial fusion experiment, Physical Review Letters 132, 065102, 2024, cited from memory. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 46UNVERIFIED, not opened: Maslov, M. et al., JET D-T scientific programme, Nuclear Fusion 63, 112002, 2023, cited from memory. Observation year 2023. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- Fusion and Frontier Energy 2026
- Chapter 5
First-plant fuel and licence set the pace
A conditional statement under stated assumptions, never a prediction.
5.1Assumptions
Scenario SCN-XT14-FUE-01: what is assumed, and what is held constant.
- Baseline
- the 2026 reference state in this edition
- Drivers
- first plants are announced for the 2030s while start-up tritium, lithium-6 and licensing remain open
- Analogues
- the slips in ITER baselines; the tritium supply range in 205572025
- Interventions
- none modelled: the specification describes the unmitigated case
- Run state
- narrative specification; quantified run scheduled for 2027
5.2The cascade, step by step
- 1
MIN → INF
start-up tritium for a first plant proves hard to contract
2018
- 2
MIN → INF
blanket designs wait for enriched lithium
2022
- 3
GOV → FIN
licence rules reach final form later than financing plans assume
2026
- 4
INF → FIN
test results arrive but plant dates move to the later 2030s
2026
- 5
FIN → INF
funding concentrates in a few devices and test facilities
2026
- 6
GOV → INF
national plans diverge on siting and waste
2026
5.3The scenario as a table of steps
How the shock in scenario SCN-XT14-FUE-01 would travel through Fusion and Frontier Energy’s coupled systems, step by step, under the assumptions the edition states.
| Step | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 01 Minerals to infrastructure | Start-up tritium for a first plant proves hard to contract. Analogue or source: 2018. | Edition XT-14, scenario SCN-XT14-FUE-01, step 1 |
| 02 Minerals to infrastructure | Blanket designs wait for enriched lithium. Analogue or source: 2022. | Edition XT-14, scenario SCN-XT14-FUE-01, step 2 |
| 03 Governance to finance | Licence rules reach final form later than financing plans assume. Analogue or source: 2026. | Edition XT-14, scenario SCN-XT14-FUE-01, step 3 |
| 04 Infrastructure to finance | Test results arrive but plant dates move to the later 2030s. Analogue or source: 2026. | Edition XT-14, scenario SCN-XT14-FUE-01, step 4 |
| 05 Finance to infrastructure | Funding concentrates in a few devices and test facilities. Analogue or source: 2026. | Edition XT-14, scenario SCN-XT14-FUE-01, step 5 |
| 06 Governance to infrastructure | National plans diverge on siting and waste. Analogue or source: 2026. | Edition XT-14, scenario SCN-XT14-FUE-01, step 6 |
A teaching model of a conditional scenario under the edition’s stated assumptions: not a forecast, not a prediction and not a warning. Sources: Fusion and Frontier Energy 2026, scenario SCN-XT14-FUE-01 (2026); Fusion and Frontier Energy 2026, references (NR-CIT-1) (2026).
Notes
Numbers are the edition’s reference numbers, so a note reads the same in every chapter. The full list, with every source and its licence, is in Annex C. Annex C, references
- 7ITER Organization (ed.), ITER in a few lines (project page; baseline reviewed by the ITER Council in November 2024; start of research operation 2034; deuterium-tritium operation 2039; Q of 10, 500 MW from 50 MW). ITER Organization, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 20Coleman, M. and Kovari, M., Global supply of tritium for fusion R and D from heavy water reactors (conference paper, UK Atomic Energy Authority; abstract and introduction read from the PDF; 0 to 27.7 kg available in 2055 across scenarios; 7.4 kg for a demonstration reactor in 2055 in one case). UK Atomic Energy Authority, Abingdon. Observation year 2018. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 25Physics Today (ed.), ITER costs are pinned down with caveats (news report on the 2016 baseline review; review committee chaired by A. Wagner; estimate without contingencies). American Institute of Physics, College Park. Observation year 2016. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- Fusion and Frontier Energy 2026
- Chapter 6
Readings from the other desks
The fusion baseline is read through each steward’s lens, then once as a whole. Each lens is a projection of reviewed findings, not a separate argument. The other desks’ own editions of this subject are listed first, as cross-references, not copies.
6.1The other desks’ editions of this subject
Federation: each desk writes its own edition for the subjects in its remit. Until a desk releases, its edition shows its frame and the reading this edition printed for it.
| Desk | Edition | State | Identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| GCRI Systems Evidence | No edition of this subject at this desk in the 2026 Baseline cycle | Not in this cycle | |
| GRF Public Deliberation | Outside this desk’s remit | Not in remit | |
| GRA Capital Readiness | Outside this desk’s remit | Not in remit | |
| Standards Progress | No edition of this subject at this desk in the 2026 Baseline cycle | Not in this cycle | |
| Academy Capability | No edition of this subject at this desk in the 2026 Baseline cycle | Not in this cycle | |
| Index Measurement | Outside this desk’s remit | Not in remit |
6.2Three lenses
One edition, read by each steward. The lens of this site comes first.
GCRI · KEY T
Technical Truth
The evidence supports reading fusion as an experiment record and a fuel-cycle question. Records are strong at research devices, no plant delivers electricity, and the fuel and licensing evidence is thin. Evidence is strongest for single experiments and weakest for fuel, materials and plant performance.
INF-001 · INF-003 · MIN-006 · SYS-012
GRF · KEY M
Public Meaning
For most people the fusion story arrives as a headline about a record or a start-up. The baseline asks that public debate separate laboratory results, plans and company statements, and keep the fuel question in view.
INF-001 · INF-005 · FIN-011
GRA · KEY F
Capital Meaning
Readiness implications only. Private funding is growing, public programmes are expanding and plant dates are stated for the 2030s1015. These show where finance-readiness evidence will matter. Nothing here is advice, a rating or an approval.
FIN-008 · FIN-009 · FIN-011
NEXUS
Synthesis
Fusion is well described by single results and thinly measured as a system. The 2027 programme should bind fuel supply, publish a comparable performance basis and test the first-plant fuel pathway before plant dates arrive.
SYS-012 · F-01 · F-04
6.3Standards, Academy and steward contributions
How the Nexus Standards drafts, the Risk Academy and the three stewards feed each quarterly edition for fusion. The standards are a preparatory working draft (2026) and are cited as drafts, never as adopted standards.
| Quarter | Edition | Question | Boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | State and Agenda | What matters this year, and what is the starting position? | observed baseline stays distinct from planned work |
| Q2 | Evidence and Build | What new evidence and capability exist? | a configured capability is not a validated result |
| Q3 | Stress Test and Readiness | What do scenarios and tests show? | simulated loss or performance is not observed impact |
| Q4 | Annual Synthesis and Renewal | What changed in the year, and what renews? | release follows review, not event publicity deadlines |
| Steward or body | Role | Contribution route |
|---|---|---|
| GCRI Canada | Lead Institution and Consortium Secretariat; publisher of record; technical truth (key T) | science and practice communities · GCRI gateway |
| The Global Risks Forum (GRF) | leadership, dialogue and the Universe programme; public meaning (key M) | policy, Universe and national adoption · GRF gateway |
| The Global Risks Alliance (GRA) | finance, insurance and development readiness; capital meaning (key F) | finance and insurance · GRA gateway |
| Nexus Standards | preparatory drafts on vocabulary, hazards, indicators and methods | Standards site · working groups HAZ, IND, MTH, FIN, AI |
| Risk Academy | learning pathways tied to the agenda questions | Academy gateway · learning by review |
| Nexus Standards and Academy | technology chapter inputs: GCRI evidence, NXS standards, RA capability | technology editorial board |
Standards drafts used in this edition
- Risk vocabulary NRS-C1 (424 terms) for terms in the glossary
- Hazard atlas NHS-1 1.1.0 (905 hazards in 120 families) for risk objects
- Seven risk classes: global, catastrophic, existential, emerging, planetary, exponential, frontier-tech
Standards calendar to watch
- Founding calls from 20 October 2026; working groups meet from 5 November 2026
- Inaugural Global Standards Council session, 12 January 2027
- Quarterly reviews in March, June, September and December, aligned with each edition
6.4GCRI reading: the model card
GCRI’s reading of this edition is its model card: what the national model is, what it computes and where it stops. It is printed in full in Annex A, with the methods it belongs to. Annex A, methodology
6.5Global Risks Forum reading: editorial essays
Four signed essays by the Reports editorial team set out the positions this edition takes. They are interpretation, labelled as such; the evidence they draw on is in the findings register.
Fusion energy out has exceeded laser energy on target, and plasmas have been held for more than twenty minutes. Neither is electricity to a grid. Keeping the two apart avoids both hype and dismissal.
EDITORIAL ESSAY · 01
Records are not plants
A laboratory record, a project baseline and a company announcement carry different weight. This edition labels each, and asks for a common basis before gain and duration are compared.
EDITORIAL ESSAY · 02
Separate results, plans and statements
Tritium and enriched lithium are rarely counted. A published inventory and demand table would show whether first plants are limited by physics, fuel or money.
EDITORIAL ESSAY · 03
The fuel cycle is the blind spot
The US has proposed a licensing framework, the UK and Germany have published plans, and the EU is preparing a strategy. Final rules decide siting, waste and finance.
EDITORIAL ESSAY · 04
Rules are arriving
6.6Global Risks Alliance reading: 2027 fusion readiness pack
The registers that open the 2027 global cycle. At baseline each is initialised from this edition.
| Item | Register | State at baseline | First 2027 entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | Fusion risk state delta | baseline set by this edition | changes against the baseline |
| E2 | WEFH+B state delta | five global system readings set | indicator updates and freshness |
| E3 | Agenda and Portfolio movement | eight agenda items · 6 proposed objects | admission decisions |
| E4 | Federation delivery register | national chapters in preparation | national chapters |
| E5 | Consortium capability register | national consortia forming | first contributions |
| E6 | Leadership questions and challenges | none yet | first challenge log |
| E7 | Foundry technical state | national environments prepared | first federation cut |
| E8 | Publication candidates | twelve findings carried forward | PUBLISH · HOLD dispositions |
| E9 | Universe readiness | one candidate mission | admission and role spine |
| E10 | Correction register | none | first federation-wide cycle |
Publication dispositions
- Publish
- Hold
- Needs evidence
- Restricted
- Superseded
6.7Nexus Standards reading: standards and regulatory watch
Instruments and published guidance that shape the systems in this edition, by status on the retrieval date. The edition assesses no one’s compliance.
- IN FORCE
- PUBLISHED
- DRAFT
- PUBLISHED · VOLUNTARY
| Instrument | Body | Scope | Status | Relevance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADVANCE Act of 2024, fusion machine definition14 | US Congress | US | IN FORCE | definition |
| Proposed rule on fusion machines, 10 CFR part 3014 | US NRC | US | PROPOSED FEBRUARY 2026 | licensing |
| Draft guidance NUREG-1556 Volume 2214 | US NRC | US | DRAFT | licence applications |
| Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap12 | US Department of Energy | US | PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2025 | national plan |
| UK fusion strategy15 | UK Government | UK | PUBLISHED MARCH 2026 | funding and delivery |
| Draft National Policy Statement EN-815 | UK Government | UK | PLANNED SUMMER 2026 | planning |
| Fusion Action Plan1617 | German federal government | Germany | PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2025 | funding and rules |
| EU fusion strategy18 | European Commission | EU | IN PREPARATION | strategy |
| National Strategy for Fusion Energy44 | Cabinet Office of Japan | Japan | PUBLISHED 2023 | national plan |
| World Fusion Energy Group9 | IAEA | global | MINISTERIAL MEETING OCTOBER 2025 | coordination |
Changed since 2024
6.8Risk Academy reading: literature and evidence review, science and assessments
The review behind this edition covers fusion assessments, peer-reviewed science and the institutional reports that bind its findings. Systematic reviews for each agenda item begin in 2027.
Review protocol
- Question
- What does the published evidence establish about fusion and frontier energy as infrastructure and its couplings?
- Sources searched
- peer-reviewed journals and preprints; laboratory and project pages; strategies and rules; surveys and fuel-supply analyses
- Window
- releases available at evidence close, 30 September 2026
- Selection
- sources that bind or contextualise a finding in this edition
- Next step
- systematic reviews for agenda items 01 to 05 in 2027
| Reference | Type | Year | Role | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawson34 | journal article | 1957 | framework | power-producing criterion |
| Zylstra et al.35 | journal article | 2022 | context | burning plasma in inertial fusion |
| Abu-Shawareb et al.36 | journal article | 2024 | supports | target gain above unity |
| Creely et al.37 | journal article | 2020 | context | SPARC design basis |
| Sorbom et al.38 | journal article | 2015 | context | ARC design study |
| Beidler et al.42 | journal article | 2021 | context | stellarator transport |
| Maslov et al.46 | journal article | 2023 | context | JET deuterium-tritium programme |
| Knaster et al.41 | journal article | 2016 | framework | materials research |
| Reference | Issuer | Year | Role | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdou et al.39 | journal article | 2021 | framework | tritium self-sufficiency |
| Federici et al.40 | journal article | 2019 | context | European demonstration design |
| Pearson et al.43 | journal article | 2018 | framework | tritium supply and use |
| Coleman and Kovari20 | conference paper | 2018 | supports | tritium from heavy-water reactors |
| Ward et al.33 | preprint | 2026 | context | lithium enrichment |
| EAST overview32 | conference paper | 2025 | context | long-pulse operation |
| National Academies45 | consensus report | 2021 | context | pilot plant pathway |
| Reference | Issuer | Year | Role | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRC proposed rule14 | US Nuclear Regulatory Commission | 2026 | supports | licensing framework |
| DOE roadmap12 | US Department of Energy | 2025 | supports | national plan |
| UK strategy15 | UK Government | 2026 | supports | funding and STEP |
| EU call for evidence18 | European Commission | 2025 | context | strategy preparation |
| Japan strategy44 | Cabinet Office of Japan | 2023 | context | national plan |
| Reference | Issuer | Year | Role | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITER project page7 | ITER Organization | 2026 | supports | baseline dates |
| IAEA World Fusion Outlook931 | IAEA | 2025 | context | device count |
| Fusion Industry Association surveys1011 | trade association via news | 2025 to 2026 | context | investment |
| Lithium-6 presentation21 | Kyoto Fusioneering | 2022 | context | fuel supply |
| Tritium commentary22 | Kleinman Center | 2025 | context | inventory |
| Orion page24 | Helion | 2026 | context | company plan |
| ARC offtake release23 | Eni and CFS | 2025 | context | company plan |
Where the evidence agrees
Notes
Numbers are the edition’s reference numbers, so a note reads the same in every chapter. The full list, with every source and its licence, is in Annex C. Annex C, references
- 10World Nuclear News (ed.), Fusion industry raised USD4.5 billion in past year, report says (14 July 2026; Fusion Industry Association 2026 survey: USD 4.48 billion in 12 months, USD 14.24 billion cumulative, 56 companies; an industry survey, weak evidence). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 15UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (ed.), A new energy revolution: the UK plan for delivering fusion energy (policy paper of 16 March 2026; over GBP 2.5 billion over five years; GBP 1.3 billion for STEP and UK Fusion Energy; the first 100,000 of 127,790 characters were read). UK Government, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 14US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (ed.), Federal Register notice of 26 February 2026, proposed rule on regulatory framework for fusion machines (10 CFR part 30; comments due 27 May 2026; the first 100,000 of 168,363 characters were read). Office of the Federal Register, Washington. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 12US Department of Energy (ed.), Energy Department announces Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap to accelerate commercial fusion power (announcement of 16 October 2025; Build-Innovate-Grow; power on the grid by the mid-2030s; no funding commitment). US Department of Energy, Washington. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 16Clean Energy Wire (ed.), German government pledges more than EUR 2 bln for nuclear fusion (news report of 2 October 2025; cabinet plan of 1 October 2025). Clean Energy Wire, Berlin. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 17World Nuclear News (ed.), Germany boosts funding for fusion research (news report; Fusion Action Plan of October 2025; more than EUR 2 billion by 2029; about EUR 1.7 billion public research funding and up to EUR 755 million from an infrastructure fund). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 18European Commission (ed.), Commission launches call for evidence to support first-ever EU-wide fusion strategy (news item of 6 June 2025; call open to 1 July 2025; strategy then programmed for the end of 2025). Directorate-General for Energy, Brussels. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 44UNVERIFIED, not opened: Cabinet Office of Japan (ed.), Fusion Energy Innovation Strategy (national strategy, April 2023), cited from memory. Cabinet Office, Tokyo. Observation year 2023. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 9World Nuclear News (ed.), Fusion entering implementation phase, says Grossi (report on the IAEA World Fusion Outlook 2025; more than 160 devices; private investment above USD 10 billion; October 2025). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 8ITER Organization (ed.), ITER Newsline issue 473 (item on the IAEA World Fusion Outlook 2025, dated 14 October 2025). ITER Organization, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 34UNVERIFIED, not opened: Lawson, J.D., Some criteria for a power producing thermonuclear reactor, Proceedings of the Physical Society B 70, 6 to 10, 1957, cited from memory. Observation year 1957. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 35UNVERIFIED, not opened: Zylstra, A.B. et al., Burning plasma achieved in inertial fusion, Nature 601, 542 to 548, 2022, cited from memory. Observation year 2022. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 36UNVERIFIED, not opened: Abu-Shawareb, H. et al., Achievement of target gain larger than unity in an inertial fusion experiment, Physical Review Letters 132, 065102, 2024, cited from memory. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 37UNVERIFIED, not opened: Creely, A.J. et al., Overview of the SPARC tokamak, Journal of Plasma Physics 86, 865860502, 2020, cited from memory. Observation year 2020. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 38UNVERIFIED, not opened: Sorbom, B.N. et al., ARC: a compact, high-field, fusion nuclear science facility and demonstration power plant with demountable magnets, Fusion Engineering and Design 100, 378 to 405, 2015, cited from memory. Observation year 2015. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 42UNVERIFIED, not opened: Beidler, C.D. et al., Demonstration of reduced neoclassical energy transport in Wendelstein 7-X, Nature 596, 221 to 226, 2021, cited from memory. Observation year 2021. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 46UNVERIFIED, not opened: Maslov, M. et al., JET D-T scientific programme, Nuclear Fusion 63, 112002, 2023, cited from memory. Observation year 2023. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 41UNVERIFIED, not opened: Knaster, J., Moeslang, A. and Muroga, T., Materials research for fusion, Nature Physics 12, 424 to 434, 2016, cited from memory. Observation year 2016. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 39UNVERIFIED, not opened: Abdou, M. et al., Physics and technology considerations for the deuterium-tritium fuel cycle and conditions for tritium fuel self sufficiency, Nuclear Fusion 61, 013001, 2021, cited from memory. Observation year 2021. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 40UNVERIFIED, not opened: Federici, G. et al., Overview of the DEMO staged design approach in Europe, Nuclear Fusion 59, 066013, 2019, cited from memory. Observation year 2019. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 43UNVERIFIED, not opened: Pearson, R.J., Antoniazzi, A.B. and Nuttall, W.J., Tritium supply and use: a key issue for the development of nuclear fusion energy, Fusion Engineering and Design 136, 1140 to 1148, 2018, cited from memory. Observation year 2018. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 20Coleman, M. and Kovari, M., Global supply of tritium for fusion R and D from heavy water reactors (conference paper, UK Atomic Energy Authority; abstract and introduction read from the PDF; 0 to 27.7 kg available in 2055 across scenarios; 7.4 kg for a demonstration reactor in 2055 in one case). UK Atomic Energy Authority, Abingdon. Observation year 2018. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 33UNVERIFIED, not opened: Ward, P. and colleagues, Lithium enrichment threatens to curb fusion deployment, arXiv:2605.04707, 2026, taken from search-result summaries. arXiv, Ithaca. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 32UNVERIFIED, not opened: Huang, J. and colleagues, EAST overview paper, IAEA Fusion Energy Conference 2025, seen as a search listing only. Institute of Plasma Physics, Hefei. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 45UNVERIFIED, not opened: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (eds.), Bringing Fusion to the US Grid, consensus report, 2021, cited from memory. National Academies Press, Washington. Observation year 2021. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 7ITER Organization (ed.), ITER in a few lines (project page; baseline reviewed by the ITER Council in November 2024; start of research operation 2034; deuterium-tritium operation 2039; Q of 10, 500 MW from 50 MW). ITER Organization, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 31UNVERIFIED, not opened: IAEA (ed.), World Fusion Outlook 2025 (publication page returned a payment error; figures read through news). International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 11World Nuclear News (ed.), Access to funding remains a major issue for fusion, says FIA (report on the Fusion Industry Association 2025 survey of 23 July 2025: USD 2.64 billion, USD 9.766 billion cumulative, 53 companies; an industry survey, weak evidence). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 21Pearson, R.J., The availability and supply of critical natural resources for the realisation of a fusion pilot plant: fuels for fusion (presentation to the US Department of Energy fusion workshop, 1 to 3 June 2022; lithium-6 is 7.4% of natural lithium; blankets need 30 to 90%; supply effectively zero; a company presentation, weak evidence). Kyoto Fusioneering, London. Observation year 2022. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 22Theiding, T., Tritium: a few kilograms can make or break nuclear fusion (policy blog post of 6 March 2025; about 25 kg of civilian tritium in 2024; a student fellow commentary, weak evidence). Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 24Helion (ed.), Orion, the first fusion power plant (company page; Malaga, Washington; construction from 2025; initial operations stated for 2028; Microsoft agreement for 50 MW; a vendor announcement, weak evidence). Helion Energy, Everett. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 23Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Eni (eds.), Eni and CFS sign over USD 1 billion power purchase agreement (joint company release of 22 September 2025; 400 MW ARC plant in Chesterfield County, Virginia; grid connection in the early 2030s; a vendor announcement, weak evidence). Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Devens. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 5Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (ed.), National Ignition Facility 2025 (annual report page; 8.6 MJ on 7 April 2025 from 2.08 MJ delivered, target gain 4.13; refurbishment and enhanced yield capability to 2.6 MJ). Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 4World Nuclear News (ed.), New world record set in JET final fusion experiments (news report of 9 February 2024; 69 MJ over 5 seconds from 0.2 milligrams of fuel; 59 MJ in 2021). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 1CEA IRFM (ed.), WEST sets a new plasma duration record (news page; plasma 61299, 12 February 2025, 1,337 seconds, 2 MW lower hybrid heating, 2.6 GJ injected and extracted). Commissariat a l energie atomique et aux energies alternatives, Cadarache. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 25Physics Today (ed.), ITER costs are pinned down with caveats (news report on the 2016 baseline review; review committee chaired by A. Wagner; estimate without contingencies). American Institute of Physics, College Park. Observation year 2016. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 26UNVERIFIED, not opened: ITER Organization and press (eds.), ITER 2024 baseline additional cost of about EUR 5 billion, taken from search-result summaries. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- Fusion and Frontier Energy 2026
- Chapter 7
The 2027 agenda
Eight bounded questions open the 2027 fusion agenda. Each comes from a baseline finding, names the initiative that will carry it and the first output due in the 2027 fusion edition.
7.1Questions for the operational series
- F-01
How much tritium is available to start a first plant, and how does stated demand compare with supply by year?
INI-XT14-FUE-01 · tritium supply and start-up; first output: supply and demand table.
- F-02
What lithium-6 enrichment capacity exists, and what do blanket designs need?
INI-XT14-LIT-02 · lithium-6 and blankets; first output: capacity map.
- F-03
What licensing, waste and siting rules apply to first plants in each jurisdiction?
INI-XT14-LIC-03 · licensing and waste; first output: rule overlay.
- F-04
How can gain, duration and power claims be compared on a common basis, including facility electricity?
INI-XT14-BMK-04 · performance on a common basis; first output: benchmark table.
- F-05
How do stated plant dates, public funding and private funding move together?
INI-XT14-FIN-05 · funding and schedule tracker; first output: tracker.
- F-06
Which materials and components limit first-wall and magnet lifetimes?
To be admitted in 2027; first output: dependence map.
- F-07
What workforce exists for fusion engineering, tritium handling and licensing?
To be admitted in 2027; first output: scoping note.
- F-08
Which readiness capabilities have been tested in a real licence or fuel transfer, and which are only planned?
Readiness capability register; first output: rung evidence for 15 functions.
7.2Portfolio proposed for the Q1 2027 alignment
Five initiatives and one Universe mission candidate are proposed for the 2027 fusion portfolio. They are programme objects: no partner, funder or member is attached to them in this edition.
| ID | Object | Kind | Question | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INI-XT14-FUE-01 | Tritium supply and start-up | Initiative | F-01 | PROPOSED |
| INI-XT14-LIT-02 | Lithium-6 and blankets | Initiative | F-02 | PROPOSED |
| INI-XT14-LIC-03 | Licensing and waste | Initiative | F-03 | PROPOSED |
| INI-XT14-BMK-04 | Performance on a common basis | Initiative | F-04 | PROPOSED |
| INI-XT14-FIN-05 | Funding and schedule tracker | Initiative | F-05 | PROPOSED |
| MSN-XT14-2027-01 | First-plant fuel Universe mission | Mission | F-01 | Candidate |
7.3The pathway
The fusion edition reads national readiness chapters, the coupled sector reports on energy, minerals and materials, and the global edition through one governed evidence graph. At baseline the federation is designed; the global energy and lifeline editions are drafted. This page states what exists today and what comes next.
- 01
National readiness chapters
fusion programme and regulatory readiness in each national edition
IN PREPARATION · national baselines
- 02
Sector couplings
GS-02 energy · SR-04 minerals · XT-12 materials
DRAFTED · sector baselines
- 03
Technology system model
devices, fuel cycle, materials, workforce, governance
v0 SPECIFIED · v1 with federation evidence
- 04
Strategic links
SR-02 lifeline systems · SR-13 strategic technology
PLANNED · strategic baselines
- 05
Universe
annual proving environment
CANDIDATE MISSION · mandate in 2027
- 06
XT-14 report
this series
BASELINE DRAFT · 2027 annual edition
- 07
Evidence and correction
one graph, many projections
OPEN · first correction cycle in 2027
7.4Universe 2027: evidence pack for the fusion candidate mission
- 01
Mandate
- 02
Core Build · 1 month
- 03
Action · 1 week
- 04
Evidence seal
- 05
Portfolio correction
- 06
Next mandate
| Item | Record | State | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Annual mandate record | PLANNED | after the Q2 2027 alignment |
| F2 | Core Build record | PLANNED | one month before the exercise |
| F3 | Exercise evidence | PLANNED | during the Action week |
| F4 | Decision packets | PLANNED | exercise state only |
| F5 | Proof receipts | PLANNED | scoped to each recorded check |
| F6 | After-action report | PLANNED | within one quarter |
| F7 | Upgrade docket | PLANNED | routed to the Portfolio |
| F8 | Portfolio renewal | PLANNED | 2027 global annual edition |
| F9 | Public synthesis | PLANNED | public-safe extracts only |
Mission
- ID
- MSN-XT14-2027-01 · First-plant fuel Universe mission
- Role spine
- Leadership sponsor · Institutional anchor · Mission lead: drawn from national pathways
- Receiving actors
- to be identified with the mandate
7.5Handoffs and routing
Where the baseline’s findings go next. A handoff routes a finding for awareness, review or work; it transfers no authority.
| Finding | Routed to | Purpose | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| INF-001 · inertial result | INI-XT14-BMK-04 | performance on a common basis | PUBLIC |
| INF-003 · plasma duration | INI-XT14-BMK-04 | performance on a common basis | PUBLIC |
| INF-005 · ITER plan | INI-XT14-FIN-05 | funding and schedule tracker | PUBLIC |
| MIN-006 · tritium | INI-XT14-FUE-01 | tritium supply and start-up | PUBLIC |
| MIN-007 · lithium-6 | INI-XT14-LIT-02 | lithium-6 and blankets | PUBLIC |
| FIN-008 · investment | INI-XT14-FIN-05 | funding and schedule tracker | PUBLIC |
| GOV-010 · licensing | INI-XT14-LIC-03 | licensing and waste | PUBLIC |
| SYS-012 · compound pathway | MSN-XT14-2027-01 | Universe candidate | CONSORTIUM |
| Class | Where it goes | Who can see it |
|---|---|---|
| PUBLIC | the published edition and its evidence bundle | anyone |
| CONSORTIUM | governed rooms of the federation | consortium members under agreement |
| CONTROLLED | need-to-know channels | named competent actors only |
7.6Feeds and signal register
| Feed | Producer | Latency | Feeds into |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory and institute news on records | laboratories and institutes | per event | INF-001 |
| ITER project updates | ITER Organization | per release | INF-005 |
| Federal Register and NRC fusion pages | US regulator | per release | GOV-010 |
| Fusion Industry Association report | trade association | annual | FIN-008 |
| IAEA World Fusion Outlook | IAEA | annual | INF-005 |
| Company announcements | companies | per event | FIN-011 |
| Tritium and lithium supply notices | producers and agencies | per event | MIN-006 |
Escalation routes
- none · keep monitoring
- research question
- project
- risk object
- annual publication
- signal report
| ID | Signal | Corroboration | Systems | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIG-XT14-001 | NIF reached a target gain of 4.135 | CORROBORATED | INF | research question F-04 |
| SIG-XT14-002 | Private funding rose to USD 4.48 billion in 12 months10 | PARTIAL | FIN | initiative F-05 |
| SIG-XT14-003 | US rule proposed for fusion machines14 | CORROBORATED | GOV | initiative F-03 |
Notes
Numbers are the edition’s reference numbers, so a note reads the same in every chapter. The full list, with every source and its licence, is in Annex C. Annex C, references
- 5Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (ed.), National Ignition Facility 2025 (annual report page; 8.6 MJ on 7 April 2025 from 2.08 MJ delivered, target gain 4.13; refurbishment and enhanced yield capability to 2.6 MJ). Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 10World Nuclear News (ed.), Fusion industry raised USD4.5 billion in past year, report says (14 July 2026; Fusion Industry Association 2026 survey: USD 4.48 billion in 12 months, USD 14.24 billion cumulative, 56 companies; an industry survey, weak evidence). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 14US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (ed.), Federal Register notice of 26 February 2026, proposed rule on regulatory framework for fusion machines (10 CFR part 30; comments due 27 May 2026; the first 100,000 of 168,363 characters were read). Office of the Federal Register, Washington. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- Fusion and Frontier Energy 2026
- Chapter 8
Systems in depth
One section per system: its state at evidence close, its exposures and what the operational series will watch.
8.1Devices and confinement platforms
Fusion devices confine plasma with lasers, magnets or both. Evidence is strongest where a laboratory reports a measured result, and weakest where claims rest on company plans.
| Component | State | Evidence | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laser inertial confinement | target gain of 4.13 on one facility; upgrade planned | 56 | Reported |
| Tokamaks | JET energy record; WEST and EAST duration records | 412 | Reported |
| Stellarators | long-pulse triple product record at Wendelstein 7-X | 342 | Reported |
| Company devices | plant and device plans are company statements; SPARC date unverified | 242329 | Inferred |
Couplings
- INF ↔ FIN devices and funding
- INF → ENE capability and firm power
- MIN → INF fuel and materials
Evidence to bind in 2027
- performance on a common basis
- facility electricity per shot or pulse
Related editions
- GLB Global Systems
- GS-02 Energy
- XT-12 Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology
- XT-15 Advanced Nuclear and Next-Generation Fission
- XT-16 Advanced Energy Storage
- SR-04 Critical Minerals and Strategic Materials
8.2Fuel cycle, tritium and energy balance
Deuterium-tritium plants need tritium, bred inside the plant from lithium, and start-up tritium from outside. Supply of both is thinly measured.
| Component | State | Evidence | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tritium supply | heavy-water reactors are the only commercial source | 2021 | Reported |
| Tritium inventory | about 25 kg in 2024 in one commentary; weak evidence | 22 | Reported |
| Breeding | blankets must reach a breeding ratio above one | 2139 | Reported |
| Energy balance | facility electricity per shot or pulse not bound | 5 | Expert input |
Couplings
- MIN → INF tritium supply
- ENE ↔ INF facility power
- WAT → INF cooling water
Evidence to bind in 2027
- tritium inventory and start-up demand
- facility electricity and cooling water
Related editions
- GLB Global Systems
- GS-02 Energy
- XT-12 Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology
- XT-15 Advanced Nuclear and Next-Generation Fission
- XT-16 Advanced Energy Storage
- SR-04 Critical Minerals and Strategic Materials
8.3Materials, lithium and supply chain
Plants need enriched lithium, magnets, structural materials and plasma-facing components. Only lithium-6 has evidence in this edition.
| Component | State | Evidence | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lithium-6 | supply effectively zero according to one presentation | 21 | Reported |
| Enrichment routes | cost and hazard concerns in one preprint; not opened | 33 | Inferred |
| Magnets and structures | not documented in sources read | 41 | Expert input |
| Research facilities | shared test facilities named in strategies | 1512 | Inferred |
Couplings
- MIN → INF lithium and materials
- TRD → INF export controls
- FIN → INF fabrication
Evidence to bind in 2027
- lithium-6 capacity
- component lifetimes and fabrication capacity
Related editions
- GLB Global Systems
- GS-02 Energy
- XT-12 Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology
- XT-15 Advanced Nuclear and Next-Generation Fission
- XT-16 Advanced Energy Storage
- SR-04 Critical Minerals and Strategic Materials
8.4Economy, investment and workforce
Private funding rose to a record in the 12 months to July 2026 and public programmes expanded. Workforce numbers are the thin part of the evidence.
| Component | State | Evidence | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private funding | USD 4.48 billion in 12 months; 56 companies in the survey | 10 | Reported |
| Public funding | UK, German and Chinese commitments on different bases | 151619 | Reported |
| Programmes | US milestone programme funded eight companies in 2023 | 13 | Reported |
| Workforce | skills programmes announced in the UK; no figure bound | 15 | Expert input |
Couplings
- FIN → INF scale-up
- FIN → GOV public programmes
- HLT → INF workforce
Evidence to bind in 2027
- public funding totals
- workforce size and skills gaps
Related editions
- GLB Global Systems
- GS-02 Energy
- XT-12 Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology
- XT-15 Advanced Nuclear and Next-Generation Fission
- XT-16 Advanced Energy Storage
- SR-04 Critical Minerals and Strategic Materials
8.5Safety, licensing and governance watch
The nearest effect of fusion on other infrastructure is regulatory. The US has proposed a licensing framework, and the UK, Germany and the EU have plans.
| Component | State | Evidence | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| US licensing | fusion machines under byproduct material rules of part 30 | 14 | Reported |
| US plan | roadmap of October 2025 targets power by the mid-2030s | 12 | Reported |
| UK and Germany | strategy of March 2026; action plan of October 2025 | 1516 | Reported |
| EU and international | call for evidence in 2025; IAEA group and outlook | 189 | Reported |
Couplings
- GOV → INF licensing route
- GOV → FIN financing conditions
- GOV → TRD fuel transfer rules
Evidence to bind in 2027
- final rule text
- national waste and siting rules
Related editions
- GLB Global Systems
- GS-02 Energy
- XT-12 Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology
- XT-15 Advanced Nuclear and Next-Generation Fission
- XT-16 Advanced Energy Storage
- SR-04 Critical Minerals and Strategic Materials
Notes
Numbers are the edition’s reference numbers, so a note reads the same in every chapter. The full list, with every source and its licence, is in Annex C. Annex C, references
- 5Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (ed.), National Ignition Facility 2025 (annual report page; 8.6 MJ on 7 April 2025 from 2.08 MJ delivered, target gain 4.13; refurbishment and enhanced yield capability to 2.6 MJ). Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 4World Nuclear News (ed.), New world record set in JET final fusion experiments (news report of 9 February 2024; 69 MJ over 5 seconds from 0.2 milligrams of fuel; 59 MJ in 2021). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 1CEA IRFM (ed.), WEST sets a new plasma duration record (news page; plasma 61299, 12 February 2025, 1,337 seconds, 2 MW lower hybrid heating, 2.6 GJ injected and extracted). Commissariat a l energie atomique et aux energies alternatives, Cadarache. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 6Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (ed.), NIF fusion ignition shot hailed as historic scientific feat (news page; shot of 5 December 2022, 3.15 MJ from 2.05 MJ; announced 13 December 2022). Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore. Observation year 2022. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 2Physics World (ed.), China experimental advanced superconducting tokamak smashes fusion confinement record (news report; EAST 1066 seconds in high confinement, January 2025; earlier 403 seconds in 2023). IOP Publishing, Bristol. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 3World Nuclear News (ed.), Wendelstein 7-X sets new fusion performance records (news report of 4 June 2025; long-pulse triple product held for 43 seconds; announcement by the research institute and EUROfusion; peer-reviewed article not yet published at announcement). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 42UNVERIFIED, not opened: Beidler, C.D. et al., Demonstration of reduced neoclassical energy transport in Wendelstein 7-X, Nature 596, 221 to 226, 2021, cited from memory. Observation year 2021. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 24Helion (ed.), Orion, the first fusion power plant (company page; Malaga, Washington; construction from 2025; initial operations stated for 2028; Microsoft agreement for 50 MW; a vendor announcement, weak evidence). Helion Energy, Everett. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 23Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Eni (eds.), Eni and CFS sign over USD 1 billion power purchase agreement (joint company release of 22 September 2025; 400 MW ARC plant in Chesterfield County, Virginia; grid connection in the early 2030s; a vendor announcement, weak evidence). Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Devens. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 29UNVERIFIED, not opened: Commonwealth Fusion Systems (ed.), SPARC status, first plasma reported as a 2027 target, taken from search-result summaries and secondary pages. Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Devens. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 20Coleman, M. and Kovari, M., Global supply of tritium for fusion R and D from heavy water reactors (conference paper, UK Atomic Energy Authority; abstract and introduction read from the PDF; 0 to 27.7 kg available in 2055 across scenarios; 7.4 kg for a demonstration reactor in 2055 in one case). UK Atomic Energy Authority, Abingdon. Observation year 2018. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 22Theiding, T., Tritium: a few kilograms can make or break nuclear fusion (policy blog post of 6 March 2025; about 25 kg of civilian tritium in 2024; a student fellow commentary, weak evidence). Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 21Pearson, R.J., The availability and supply of critical natural resources for the realisation of a fusion pilot plant: fuels for fusion (presentation to the US Department of Energy fusion workshop, 1 to 3 June 2022; lithium-6 is 7.4% of natural lithium; blankets need 30 to 90%; supply effectively zero; a company presentation, weak evidence). Kyoto Fusioneering, London. Observation year 2022. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 39UNVERIFIED, not opened: Abdou, M. et al., Physics and technology considerations for the deuterium-tritium fuel cycle and conditions for tritium fuel self sufficiency, Nuclear Fusion 61, 013001, 2021, cited from memory. Observation year 2021. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 33UNVERIFIED, not opened: Ward, P. and colleagues, Lithium enrichment threatens to curb fusion deployment, arXiv:2605.04707, 2026, taken from search-result summaries. arXiv, Ithaca. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 41UNVERIFIED, not opened: Knaster, J., Moeslang, A. and Muroga, T., Materials research for fusion, Nature Physics 12, 424 to 434, 2016, cited from memory. Observation year 2016. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 15UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (ed.), A new energy revolution: the UK plan for delivering fusion energy (policy paper of 16 March 2026; over GBP 2.5 billion over five years; GBP 1.3 billion for STEP and UK Fusion Energy; the first 100,000 of 127,790 characters were read). UK Government, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 12US Department of Energy (ed.), Energy Department announces Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap to accelerate commercial fusion power (announcement of 16 October 2025; Build-Innovate-Grow; power on the grid by the mid-2030s; no funding commitment). US Department of Energy, Washington. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 10World Nuclear News (ed.), Fusion industry raised USD4.5 billion in past year, report says (14 July 2026; Fusion Industry Association 2026 survey: USD 4.48 billion in 12 months, USD 14.24 billion cumulative, 56 companies; an industry survey, weak evidence). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 16Clean Energy Wire (ed.), German government pledges more than EUR 2 bln for nuclear fusion (news report of 2 October 2025; cabinet plan of 1 October 2025). Clean Energy Wire, Berlin. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 19American Nuclear Society (ed.), China launches fusion-focused company (news report of 30 July 2025; China Fusion Energy Co., 15 billion yuan registered capital, subsidiary of a state nuclear group; BEST tokamak in Hefei hoped for 2027). American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 13American Nuclear Society (ed.), DOE picks eight fusion companies to design pilot power plants (news report of 2 June 2023; USD 46 million milestone programme; the page was read to the paywall). American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park. Observation year 2023. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 14US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (ed.), Federal Register notice of 26 February 2026, proposed rule on regulatory framework for fusion machines (10 CFR part 30; comments due 27 May 2026; the first 100,000 of 168,363 characters were read). Office of the Federal Register, Washington. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 18European Commission (ed.), Commission launches call for evidence to support first-ever EU-wide fusion strategy (news item of 6 June 2025; call open to 1 July 2025; strategy then programmed for the end of 2025). Directorate-General for Energy, Brussels. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 9World Nuclear News (ed.), Fusion entering implementation phase, says Grossi (report on the IAEA World Fusion Outlook 2025; more than 160 devices; private investment above USD 10 billion; October 2025). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
Methodology
How the edition was made: methods, the model card, the evidence cut and its age, the acceptance record and the glossary.
A.1Methods
The global baseline uses published values and four simple derivations. Each is shown in full so that any reader can reproduce it.
| No. | Derivation | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | Target gain of the December 2022 NIF shot | 3.15 ÷ 2.05 | 1.54 |
| (2) | Start of deuterium-tritium operation in the 2016 ITER plan implied by a four-year delay to 2039 | 2039 minus 4 | 2035 |
| (3) | Average fusion power over the JET record pulse | 69 MJ ÷ 5 s | about 14 MW |
| (4) | Ratio of private funding in 12 months to July 2026 to the 2025 figure | 4.48 ÷ 2.64 | about 1.7 times |
| Strength | Definition |
|---|---|
| STRONG | a disruption in the source system has historically changed the target system’s service or output within one season, in more than one region |
| MODERATE | an effect is documented but buffered or slower |
| WEAK | an effect is plausible but not documented at global scale |
| Label | Rule |
|---|---|
| Reported | value as issued by its source, with year |
| Inferred | reasoned from cited evidence; never a measurement |
| Estimated | Nexus analytical value with stated method |
| Scenario | conditional on stated assumptions |
| Expert input | structured editorial judgement awaiting evidence |
A.2Model card, Fusion System Model v0
- Model ID
- MDL-XT14-FUSION · v0.1
- Purpose
- represent fusion and frontier energy as infrastructure coupled to energy, fuel supply, materials, finance, workforce and licensing
- Family
- graph-based system of systems
- Inputs
- the cited sources of this edition; no proprietary data
- Method
- expert-specified coupling strengths (STRONG · MODERATE · WEAK) from assessments and analogue events
- Validation
- none yet, first validation against federation evidence in 2027
- Uncertainty
- qualitative; strengths are hypotheses, not measurements
- Domain of validity
- global scale; not for asset-, site- or country-level use
- Reproducibility
- strength table and sources published in this edition
typed in v0
documented within one season
documented, buffered
plausible, undocumented
A.3The baseline evidence cut
Every Nexus edition is published from a frozen evidence cut. The global baseline cut is documentary: it pins the exact edition of every source cited. Federation cuts begin with the first national Foundry cuts in 2027.
- Cut ID
- DC-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-B0
- Type
- baseline documentary cut
- Resolution policy
- pinned · as of 30 September 2026
- Sources pinned
- 46 cited sources, each at the edition and access date in the references
- Model runs
- none at baseline, analytical values are stated with their method
- Digest
- computed at freeze and recorded in the publication record
- Supersedes
- nothing, first cut of the series
- Superseded by
- the 2027 fusion annual cut
Lineage
- 01
source edition
- 02
pinned citation
- 03
finding
- 04
page
- 05
publication record
| Element | Baseline 2026 | 2027 global annual |
|---|---|---|
| Sources | cited global publications, pinned by edition | national, regional and sector cuts through one graph |
| Analysis | stated methods and editorial estimates | typed analysis specifications |
| Models | Fusion System Model v0 specification | model runs with receipts |
| Findings | twelve baseline findings | findings re-bound to federation evidence |
| Review | five passes scheduled | five passes on the exact digest |
A.4Evidence age and coverage
A 2026 global edition rests on evidence observed in many different years. This page shows each time base, so that no single year label hides older evidence.
| Indicator | Observed | Released | Cadence | Next release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIF record shot | 2025 | Apr 2025 | per event | refurbished shots |
| JET energy record | 2023 | Oct 2023 · Feb 2024 | one-off | ITER results |
| WEST and EAST durations | 2025 | Jan to Feb 2025 | per event | next campaigns |
| ITER baseline | 2026 | page read 2026-11-03 | periodic | next Council update |
| Industry survey | 2026 | Jul 2026 | annual | July 2027 |
| US regulator rule | 2026 | Feb 2026 | per rule | final rule |
| UK strategy | 2026 | Mar 2026 | periodic | EN-8 draft |
| Tritium supply analysis | 2018 | 2018 · 2025 commentary | one-off | new studies |
| System | Coverage | Thinnest dimension |
|---|---|---|
| Experiments | GOOD | power and gain on a plant basis |
| Fuel cycle | THIN | tritium and lithium-6 volumes |
| Governance | PARTIAL | final rules and national plans |
| Investment | PARTIAL | public funding totals |
| Energy | THIN | electricity delivered to a grid |
| Materials | THIN | component lifetimes |
| Skills | THIN | workforce numbers |
| Frontier energy beyond fusion | THIN | covered by other editions |
| Field | Source that would fill it | Blocker |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity delivered to a grid from fusion | plant operators and grid operators | no plant in operation in the sources read; company plans only2423 |
| Facility electricity per NIF shot or per WEST pulse | laboratory facility reports | not on the pages read; gain counts laser energy on target only5 |
| Global tritium inventory and start-up demand on a common basis | IAEA, national tritium programmes, peer-reviewed supply studies | one conference analysis and one commentary read; estimates differ2022 |
| Lithium-6 enrichment capacity and demand | enrichment operators, national laboratories | one company presentation read; a 2026 preprint seen in search only2133 |
| ITER cost of the 2024 baseline | ITER Council documents | not on the page read; a figure appears only in search summaries26 |
| SPARC first plasma date and status | Commonwealth Fusion Systems and its regulators | date reported in search summaries only; no primary page opened29 |
| Commonwealth Fusion Systems offtake terms with Google | company releases | seen in search summaries only; terms not disclosed27 |
| Helion Microsoft agreement terms | company releases | release page returned a block; figure taken from the company page read2824 |
| Fusion Industry Association 2026 report from the report itself | FIA report30 | report page returned an error; figures come from a news service10 |
| IAEA World Fusion Outlook 2025 from the report itself | IAEA publication31 | publication page returned a payment error; figures come from news9 |
| Status of the final US rule on fusion machines | Federal Register and NRC | proposed rule read; no final rule located at evidence close14 |
| Status of the EU fusion strategy | European Commission | call for evidence read; no strategy text located18 |
| Public funding totals by country | ministries, OECD, national audit offices | not consolidated; UK, Germany and China figures are on different bases151619 |
| Workforce size and fabrication capacity by country | national statistics, industry surveys | not retrieved; capability rung stays LISTED |
A.5Evidence cards, two anchor sources
Published on the annual report site of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for 2025. One facility. Role: binds INF-001 and the gain tiles. Coverage: laser-driven inertial confinement.
EVD-XT14-001
Record fusion yield and gain at the National Ignition Facility5
Conference paper of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, 2018. One-off. Role: binds MIN-006. Coverage: heavy-water reactors and scenarios to 2055.
EVD-XT14-002
Global supply of tritium for fusion R and D from heavy-water reactors20
| Dimension | EVD-XT14-001 | EVD-XT14-002 |
|---|---|---|
| Completeness | one facility; one shot series | scenarios to 2055 on 2018 data |
| Timeliness | annual report for 2025 | about eight years old |
| Revision | yearly reports | revised from an earlier work |
| Method transparency | yield and laser energy stated | scenario assumptions stated |
| External validation | laboratory report; journal papers for earlier shots | conference review |
Evidence cards to follow in 2027
A.6Publication acceptance record
Editorial self-check at evidence close. Every applicable item carries a disposition; the remaining items are review, approval and deposit.
| Group | Area | Items | Pass | N/A | Pending |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | Identity and scope | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| D2 | Source and data | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| D3 | Analysis and models | 12 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
| D4 | Findings and claims | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| D5 | Figures, tables, maps | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| D6 | Editorial and citations | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| D7 | Review and approval | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| D8 | Artefact and design | 12 | 7 | 0 | 5 |
| D9 | Registry and release | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Publication gate
- Conditions met
- 14 of 23 at evidence close
- Blocking problems
- none recorded
- Open conditions
- reviews, approval of the exact digest, deposit, registry pointer
Not applicable at baseline
- Model runs
- first runs in Q1 2027
- Maps
- plates in Q2 2027
- Waivers
- none
A.7Status words
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Observed | Measured directly and published by the source. |
| Reported | Published statistics of an official or institutional source. |
| Declared | Stated by the body concerned; not independently measured. |
| Estimated | A Nexus estimate from cited evidence, with its method in Annex A. |
| Modelled | Produced by a stated model from cited inputs. |
| Inferred | Reasoned from cited evidence; not measured. |
| Forecast | A projection by the cited source. |
| Simulated | A simulation result under stated assumptions. |
| Scenario | A conditional statement under stated assumptions; never a prediction. |
| Expert input | Expert judgement, recorded with its basis. |
| Candidate | Proposed for a later edition; not yet evidence. |
| Evidence-quality levels (EQL 1 to 5) grade the source behind a value; they are not a score of the subject. | |
A.8How the edition is made, released and corrected
Every edition is built from a sealed evidence cut, reviewed under three keys, signed and deposited before any site shows it as published; corrections go to Nexus Standards as change proposals and feed the next cut.
| Step | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 01 Evidence arrives from the pillars | Foundry seals observations and indicator series, Universe hands over after-action and scenario findings, and contributions are screened at every gateway, including this site’s. | |
| 02 The cut is sealed | On the cut date the evidence is pinned under one identifier, so anyone can rebuild the edition from exactly what it was built on. | |
| 03 The edition is assembled | The edition is drafted from its template and content pack. Agents may draft; they never publish and never decide. | |
| 04 The keys turn | At the publisher of record the truth key comes first: every value is checked against its source or stated method before the meaning and capital keys turn. No edition moves on until every key has been turned by a named steward. | |
| 05 The gate opens | A named approver releases one exact digest of the edition; any change after this point is a new version, never a silent edit. | |
| 06 Signed and deposited | The PDF, the web edition and the data bundle are signed together with a manifest and an RO-Crate description, and deposited on Zenodo with a concept and a version DOI. | |
| 07 Published on its desk’s site | Only then does the edition show as published on its desk’s Reports site, and the Collection lists it as a part. | |
| 08 Corrections go to Standards | Method and correction findings go to Nexus Standards as change proposals; citations, corrections and new contributions feed the next evidence cut. |
A teaching model of the process, not a forecast and not a record of any run; dates and counts on this page come from the programme record. Sources: Reports governance at GCRI Canada (2026); Zenodo, repository of record for Reports deposits (2026).
Lifecycle, one state at a time: Draft, Computed, Evidence bound, Reviewed, Approved for release, Published, Corrected, Superseded. This edition is a draft.
A.9Glossary and abbreviations
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Baseline Edition | the inaugural annual edition that fixes the reference state for the series |
| WEFH+B | water, energy, food, health and biodiversity, the national nexus core |
| Coupling | a typed dependency through which one system transmits to another |
| Protection gap | the share of losses not covered by insurance |
| Capability ladder | LISTED → EXISTS → ADEQUATE → TESTED → DEMONSTRATED |
| EQL | evidence-quality level, 1–5 |
| Evidence cut | a frozen resolution of exact sources and versions |
| NNC · NLC · NWG | National Nexus Consortium · National Leadership Council · National Working Groups |
| Abbreviation | Expansion |
|---|---|
| CANDU | Canada Deuterium Uranium heavy-water reactor |
| D-T | deuterium-tritium |
| EAST | Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak |
| FIA | Fusion Industry Association |
| IAEA | International Atomic Energy Agency |
| ITER | international fusion research project in France |
| JET | Joint European Torus |
| NIF | National Ignition Facility |
| NRC | US Nuclear Regulatory Commission |
| STEP | Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production |
| TBR | tritium breeding ratio |
| WEST | Tungsten Environment in Steady-state Tokamak |
A.10Technical annex
| Item | Annex | Contents | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.1 | Indicator definitions | the global indicator set, with units and sources | IN THIS EDITION |
| A.2 | Coupling strengths | the twenty-cell matrix and its rationale | IN THIS EDITION |
| A.3 | Scenario specification | SCN-XT14-FUE-01 assumptions and signposts | IN THIS EDITION |
| A.4 | Capability placements | rung evidence for fifteen functions | IN THIS EDITION |
| A.5 | Model diagnostics | first runs and validation | 2027 |
| A.6 | Sensitivity analyses | influence of coupling strengths | 2027 |
| A.7 | Cluster notes | cards for the major fusion device and fuel-cycle clusters | 2027 |
| A.8 | Review statements | pass-by-pass review record | AT RELEASE |
A.1 · indicator definition: target gain
- Construct
- fusion energy produced divided by the laser energy delivered to the target
- Unit
- times
- Method
- yield and laser energy as reported by the laboratory for a single shot
- Source
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory annual report5
- Uncertainty
- no uncertainty is stated on the page read
- Known limits
- laser energy on target only; facility electricity is not included; one facility
Notes
Numbers are the edition’s reference numbers, so a note reads the same in every chapter. The full list, with every source and its licence, is in Annex C. Annex C, references
- 24Helion (ed.), Orion, the first fusion power plant (company page; Malaga, Washington; construction from 2025; initial operations stated for 2028; Microsoft agreement for 50 MW; a vendor announcement, weak evidence). Helion Energy, Everett. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 23Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Eni (eds.), Eni and CFS sign over USD 1 billion power purchase agreement (joint company release of 22 September 2025; 400 MW ARC plant in Chesterfield County, Virginia; grid connection in the early 2030s; a vendor announcement, weak evidence). Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Devens. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 5Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (ed.), National Ignition Facility 2025 (annual report page; 8.6 MJ on 7 April 2025 from 2.08 MJ delivered, target gain 4.13; refurbishment and enhanced yield capability to 2.6 MJ). Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 20Coleman, M. and Kovari, M., Global supply of tritium for fusion R and D from heavy water reactors (conference paper, UK Atomic Energy Authority; abstract and introduction read from the PDF; 0 to 27.7 kg available in 2055 across scenarios; 7.4 kg for a demonstration reactor in 2055 in one case). UK Atomic Energy Authority, Abingdon. Observation year 2018. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 22Theiding, T., Tritium: a few kilograms can make or break nuclear fusion (policy blog post of 6 March 2025; about 25 kg of civilian tritium in 2024; a student fellow commentary, weak evidence). Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 21Pearson, R.J., The availability and supply of critical natural resources for the realisation of a fusion pilot plant: fuels for fusion (presentation to the US Department of Energy fusion workshop, 1 to 3 June 2022; lithium-6 is 7.4% of natural lithium; blankets need 30 to 90%; supply effectively zero; a company presentation, weak evidence). Kyoto Fusioneering, London. Observation year 2022. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 33UNVERIFIED, not opened: Ward, P. and colleagues, Lithium enrichment threatens to curb fusion deployment, arXiv:2605.04707, 2026, taken from search-result summaries. arXiv, Ithaca. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 26UNVERIFIED, not opened: ITER Organization and press (eds.), ITER 2024 baseline additional cost of about EUR 5 billion, taken from search-result summaries. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 29UNVERIFIED, not opened: Commonwealth Fusion Systems (ed.), SPARC status, first plasma reported as a 2027 target, taken from search-result summaries and secondary pages. Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Devens. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 27UNVERIFIED, not opened: Commonwealth Fusion Systems (ed.), offtake agreement with Google for 200 MW from the Virginia ARC plant, June 2025, taken from search-result summaries. Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Devens. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 28UNVERIFIED, not opened: Helion (ed.), Helion secures land and begins building on the site of the first fusion power plant, release of 30 July 2025 (the release page returned a block) and the 2023 Microsoft agreement, taken from search-result summaries. Helion Energy, Everett. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 30UNVERIFIED, not opened: Fusion Industry Association (ed.), The Global Fusion Industry in 2026 (report page returned an error; figures read through a news service). Fusion Industry Association, Washington. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 10World Nuclear News (ed.), Fusion industry raised USD4.5 billion in past year, report says (14 July 2026; Fusion Industry Association 2026 survey: USD 4.48 billion in 12 months, USD 14.24 billion cumulative, 56 companies; an industry survey, weak evidence). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 31UNVERIFIED, not opened: IAEA (ed.), World Fusion Outlook 2025 (publication page returned a payment error; figures read through news). International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 9World Nuclear News (ed.), Fusion entering implementation phase, says Grossi (report on the IAEA World Fusion Outlook 2025; more than 160 devices; private investment above USD 10 billion; October 2025). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 14US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (ed.), Federal Register notice of 26 February 2026, proposed rule on regulatory framework for fusion machines (10 CFR part 30; comments due 27 May 2026; the first 100,000 of 168,363 characters were read). Office of the Federal Register, Washington. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 18European Commission (ed.), Commission launches call for evidence to support first-ever EU-wide fusion strategy (news item of 6 June 2025; call open to 1 July 2025; strategy then programmed for the end of 2025). Directorate-General for Energy, Brussels. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 15UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (ed.), A new energy revolution: the UK plan for delivering fusion energy (policy paper of 16 March 2026; over GBP 2.5 billion over five years; GBP 1.3 billion for STEP and UK Fusion Energy; the first 100,000 of 127,790 characters were read). UK Government, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 16Clean Energy Wire (ed.), German government pledges more than EUR 2 bln for nuclear fusion (news report of 2 October 2025; cabinet plan of 1 October 2025). Clean Energy Wire, Berlin. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 19American Nuclear Society (ed.), China launches fusion-focused company (news report of 30 July 2025; China Fusion Energy Co., 15 billion yuan registered capital, subsidiary of a state nuclear group; BEST tokamak in Hefei hoped for 2027). American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 7ITER Organization (ed.), ITER in a few lines (project page; baseline reviewed by the ITER Council in November 2024; start of research operation 2034; deuterium-tritium operation 2039; Q of 10, 500 MW from 50 MW). ITER Organization, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
Data appendix
The indicator set with its sources, the source registers, the licences of every kind of material and the formats of the edition.
B.1The indicator set
| Indicator | Value | Unit | Year | State | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIF fusion energy produced, 7 April 2025 | 8.6 | MJ | 2025 | Reported | 5 |
| NIF laser energy delivered to target, 2025 | 2.08 | MJ | 2025 | Reported | 5 |
| NIF target gain, 2025 | 4.13 | times | 2025 | Reported | 5 |
| NIF fusion energy produced, 5 December 2022 | 3.15 | MJ | 2022 | Reported | 6 |
| NIF laser energy delivered to target, 2022 | 2.05 | MJ | 2022 | Reported | 6 |
| JET fusion energy over about 5 seconds | 69 | MJ | 2023 | Reported | 4 |
| WEST plasma duration | 1,337 | seconds | 2025 | Reported | 1 |
| WEST heating power in the record pulse | 2 | MW | 2025 | Reported | 1 |
| EAST high-confinement plasma duration | 1,066 | seconds | 2025 | Reported | 2 |
| Wendelstein 7-X long-pulse triple product record held for | 43 | seconds | 2025 | Reported | 3 |
| ITER start of deuterium-tritium operation | 2039 | year | 2039 plan | Scenario | 7 |
| Private fusion funding, 12 months to July 2026 | 4.48 | USD billion | 2026 | Reported | 10 |
| Private fusion funding, cumulative | 14.24 | USD billion | 2026 | Reported | 10 |
| Companies in the 2026 survey | 56 | companies | 2026 | Reported | 10 |
| UK government fusion funding over five years | >2.5 | GBP billion | 2026 | Reported | 15 |
| German fusion funding by 2029 | >2 | EUR billion | 2025 | Reported | 16 |
B.2Global source register
The governed source set behind this edition. Each source keeps its authority, coverage, cadence and role; categories describe origin, not truth.
Domains bound by the register
- INF
- FIN
- MIN
- ENE
- GOV
- CLI
- TRD
- WAT
- HLT
- FOO
| Source | Category | Coverage | Period | Cadence | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LLNL annual report page5 | national laboratory | one facility | 2025 | annual | inertial results |
| CEA page1 | national research agency | one device | 2025 | one-off | plasma duration |
| WNN on JET4 | trade news service | one device | 2024 | one-off | energy record |
| ITER project page7 | international project | ITER | 2026 | continuous | baseline |
| IAEA outlook via news9 | intergovernmental agency | global | 2025 | annual | device count |
| FIA surveys via news1011 | trade association | global | 2025 to 2026 | annual | investment |
| US DOE roadmap12 | national ministry | US | 2025 | periodic | plan |
| Federal Register notice14 | national regulator | US | 2026 | per rule | licensing |
| UK strategy15 | national government | UK | 2026 | periodic | funding |
| Coleman and Kovari20 | conference paper | global | 2018 | one-off | tritium |
B.3Regional reading, fusion across ten clusters
Regional plates follow with the regional editions. This page gives the regional reading of fusion infrastructure and exposure in table form and ranks no region.
| Region | Principal hazards | Systems most exposed | Baseline evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | laser facility; regulator rule proposed; company plants stated | fuel, licensing | LLNL5; NRC14; DOE12 |
| South America | no source read | not bound | regional evidence (not bound) |
| Europe | JET results; Wendelstein 7-X; WEST; ITER site; UK and German plans | devices, funding | ITER7; UK15; Germany16 |
| Eurasia | no source read | not bound | regional evidence (not bound) |
| Middle East and North Africa | no documented coupling | not bound | regional evidence (not bound) |
| Africa | no documented coupling | not bound | regional evidence (not bound) |
| South Asia | ITER member; no further source read | not bound | ITER7 |
| East Asia | EAST; state-owned fusion company; national programmes | devices, funding | Physics World2; ANS19 |
| ASEAN | no source read | not bound | regional evidence (not bound) |
| Oceania-Pacific | no source read | not bound | regional evidence (not bound) |
B.4Cluster card: tritium and lithium fuel cycle
- fuel cycle
- tritium
- lithium-6
- single point
- Systems in view
- heavy-water reactors, tritium stores, enrichment, breeding blankets
- Defining events
- first plants stated for the 2030s with start-up fuel unresolved2021
- Couplings
- MIN → INF fuel; TRD → MIN transfer rules
- Capability evidence
- blanket and breeding research reported3921
- Gaps
- inventory; start-up demand; lithium-6 capacity
- Agenda items
- F-01 · F-02
Heavy-water reactors are the only commercial source of tritium, and the amount free for fusion in 2055 ranges from 0 to 27.7 kg across scenarios [20].
SUPPLY
One commercial tritium source
Natural lithium holds 7.4% lithium-6, blankets need 30 to 90%, and current supply is effectively zero according to one presentation [21].
FUEL
Lithium-6 is scarce
Reported responses include breeding blankets, natural-lithium concepts and new enrichment methods. None is documented at scale here [21] [33].
RESPONSE
Breeding and new enrichment
B.5How countries appear in the fusion edition
Countries enter the fusion edition through the readiness chapters of their own national editions, on one card grammar. They are read against peer distributions and thresholds, never ranked.
| Card field | What it shows | Source |
|---|---|---|
| WEFH+B state | each core system against peer distribution bands | national edition |
| Couplings | the national dependency matrix | national edition |
| Risk objects | the national risk portfolio | national edition |
| Capability rungs | the national capability ladder | national edition |
| Evidence age | oldest and newest source dates | national source register |
Editions in the 2026 Baseline programme
countries and unions
clusters
flagship and sector
technology reports
How to read a country card
- Each system is shown against the distribution of its peers, with thresholds where they exist
- Couplings and risk objects come from the country’s own national edition
- Capability rungs record evidence, not a judgement of institutions
- Evidence age is printed, so older national data are visible as such
| Wave | Countries and unions | State |
|---|---|---|
| W0 | Canada | ISSUED |
| W1 | United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, European Union, Switzerland | PLANNED |
| W2 | Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Türkiye, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Senegal, Kenya, African Union, India, China, Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia | PLANNED |
B.6Licences
| Material | Licence |
|---|---|
| Text | CC BY 4.0 |
| Data | on the licence of each source; Nexus tables CC BY 4.0 |
| Figures | Nexus figures CC BY 4.0; third-party as credited |
| Maps | boundary source and licence printed on each plate |
| Metadata | CC0 1.0, as Zenodo publishes it |
| Third-party data, figures and text | The source’s own licence, credited where it is used; never relicensed |
| Nexus-authored text, tables and figures: CC BY 4.0 (SPDX CC-BY-4.0). Map plates print their boundary source and licence. | |
B.7Formats and provenance
| Format | Kind | State | What it is | Identifier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web edition | HTML | On this site | Draft in stewardship review; every value resolves to its source. | NR-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-v1.0.0 |
| Print edition | At release | A4 portrait · screen, print and archival PDF, signed with the web edition at release. | NR-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-v1.0.0 | |
| Indicator data | CSV · JSON | On this site | 16 indicators with unit, year, status and source; the machine-readable copy ships with the evidence bundle at release. | NR-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE data release v1 |
| Figures | SVG · PNG | On this site | 4 on the web edition: headline figure, figure 1.3, coupling instrument, capability ladder. | FIG-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-* |
| Slides | Not recorded | No slide deck is recorded for this edition. | ||
| Evidence brief | HTML · PDF | Not recorded | No evidence brief is recorded for this edition. | |
| Dataset with DOI | DataCite | At release | Concept and version DOI are minted at deposit; none is recorded yet. |
Provenance
- Edition pack
- The edition’s content pack (JSON), from which the print and web editions are built
- Evidence cut
- DC-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-B0, closed 30 September 2026
- Reproducibility
- sourced values cited; analytical values reproducible from stated parameters
- Self-check
- 14 of 23 at evidence close; a fail on any item blocks release
- Review
- five passes scheduled before release (in Annex C)
- Publisher of record
- GCRI for the Nexus Consortium
- Corrections
- Registry correction pathway; upheld corrections are published as notices with a new version
Notes
Numbers are the edition’s reference numbers, so a note reads the same in every chapter. The full list, with every source and its licence, is in Annex C. Annex C, references
- 5Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (ed.), National Ignition Facility 2025 (annual report page; 8.6 MJ on 7 April 2025 from 2.08 MJ delivered, target gain 4.13; refurbishment and enhanced yield capability to 2.6 MJ). Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 6Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (ed.), NIF fusion ignition shot hailed as historic scientific feat (news page; shot of 5 December 2022, 3.15 MJ from 2.05 MJ; announced 13 December 2022). Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore. Observation year 2022. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 4World Nuclear News (ed.), New world record set in JET final fusion experiments (news report of 9 February 2024; 69 MJ over 5 seconds from 0.2 milligrams of fuel; 59 MJ in 2021). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 1CEA IRFM (ed.), WEST sets a new plasma duration record (news page; plasma 61299, 12 February 2025, 1,337 seconds, 2 MW lower hybrid heating, 2.6 GJ injected and extracted). Commissariat a l energie atomique et aux energies alternatives, Cadarache. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 2Physics World (ed.), China experimental advanced superconducting tokamak smashes fusion confinement record (news report; EAST 1066 seconds in high confinement, January 2025; earlier 403 seconds in 2023). IOP Publishing, Bristol. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 3World Nuclear News (ed.), Wendelstein 7-X sets new fusion performance records (news report of 4 June 2025; long-pulse triple product held for 43 seconds; announcement by the research institute and EUROfusion; peer-reviewed article not yet published at announcement). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 7ITER Organization (ed.), ITER in a few lines (project page; baseline reviewed by the ITER Council in November 2024; start of research operation 2034; deuterium-tritium operation 2039; Q of 10, 500 MW from 50 MW). ITER Organization, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 10World Nuclear News (ed.), Fusion industry raised USD4.5 billion in past year, report says (14 July 2026; Fusion Industry Association 2026 survey: USD 4.48 billion in 12 months, USD 14.24 billion cumulative, 56 companies; an industry survey, weak evidence). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 15UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (ed.), A new energy revolution: the UK plan for delivering fusion energy (policy paper of 16 March 2026; over GBP 2.5 billion over five years; GBP 1.3 billion for STEP and UK Fusion Energy; the first 100,000 of 127,790 characters were read). UK Government, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 16Clean Energy Wire (ed.), German government pledges more than EUR 2 bln for nuclear fusion (news report of 2 October 2025; cabinet plan of 1 October 2025). Clean Energy Wire, Berlin. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 9World Nuclear News (ed.), Fusion entering implementation phase, says Grossi (report on the IAEA World Fusion Outlook 2025; more than 160 devices; private investment above USD 10 billion; October 2025). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 11World Nuclear News (ed.), Access to funding remains a major issue for fusion, says FIA (report on the Fusion Industry Association 2025 survey of 23 July 2025: USD 2.64 billion, USD 9.766 billion cumulative, 53 companies; an industry survey, weak evidence). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 12US Department of Energy (ed.), Energy Department announces Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap to accelerate commercial fusion power (announcement of 16 October 2025; Build-Innovate-Grow; power on the grid by the mid-2030s; no funding commitment). US Department of Energy, Washington. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 14US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (ed.), Federal Register notice of 26 February 2026, proposed rule on regulatory framework for fusion machines (10 CFR part 30; comments due 27 May 2026; the first 100,000 of 168,363 characters were read). Office of the Federal Register, Washington. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 20Coleman, M. and Kovari, M., Global supply of tritium for fusion R and D from heavy water reactors (conference paper, UK Atomic Energy Authority; abstract and introduction read from the PDF; 0 to 27.7 kg available in 2055 across scenarios; 7.4 kg for a demonstration reactor in 2055 in one case). UK Atomic Energy Authority, Abingdon. Observation year 2018. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 19American Nuclear Society (ed.), China launches fusion-focused company (news report of 30 July 2025; China Fusion Energy Co., 15 billion yuan registered capital, subsidiary of a state nuclear group; BEST tokamak in Hefei hoped for 2027). American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 21Pearson, R.J., The availability and supply of critical natural resources for the realisation of a fusion pilot plant: fuels for fusion (presentation to the US Department of Energy fusion workshop, 1 to 3 June 2022; lithium-6 is 7.4% of natural lithium; blankets need 30 to 90%; supply effectively zero; a company presentation, weak evidence). Kyoto Fusioneering, London. Observation year 2022. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
- 39UNVERIFIED, not opened: Abdou, M. et al., Physics and technology considerations for the deuterium-tritium fuel cycle and conditions for tritium fuel self sufficiency, Nuclear Fusion 61, 013001, 2021, cited from memory. Observation year 2021. Accessed 2026-11-03.back
References and record
Every source the edition rests on, the publication record, the corrections log and the open record.
C.146 sources
NR-CIT-1, editor first. A DOI is linked where the source has one; Nexus records carry a UNI once the catalogue allocates it (NS-1).
- 1CEA IRFM (ed.), WEST sets a new plasma duration record (news page; plasma 61299, 12 February 2025, 1,337 seconds, 2 MW lower hybrid heating, 2.6 GJ injected and extracted). Commissariat a l energie atomique et aux energies alternatives, Cadarache. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in the summary, chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 6, chapter 8
- 2Physics World (ed.), China experimental advanced superconducting tokamak smashes fusion confinement record (news report; EAST 1066 seconds in high confinement, January 2025; earlier 403 seconds in 2023). IOP Publishing, Bristol. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in the summary, chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 8
- 3World Nuclear News (ed.), Wendelstein 7-X sets new fusion performance records (news report of 4 June 2025; long-pulse triple product held for 43 seconds; announcement by the research institute and EUROfusion; peer-reviewed article not yet published at announcement). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 2, chapter 8
- 4World Nuclear News (ed.), New world record set in JET final fusion experiments (news report of 9 February 2024; 69 MJ over 5 seconds from 0.2 milligrams of fuel; 59 MJ in 2021). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in the summary, chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 6, chapter 8
- 5Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (ed.), National Ignition Facility 2025 (annual report page; 8.6 MJ on 7 April 2025 from 2.08 MJ delivered, target gain 4.13; refurbishment and enhanced yield capability to 2.6 MJ). Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in the summary, chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 6, chapter 7, chapter 8
- 6Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (ed.), NIF fusion ignition shot hailed as historic scientific feat (news page; shot of 5 December 2022, 3.15 MJ from 2.05 MJ; announced 13 December 2022). Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore. Observation year 2022. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in the summary, chapter 2, chapter 8
- 7ITER Organization (ed.), ITER in a few lines (project page; baseline reviewed by the ITER Council in November 2024; start of research operation 2034; deuterium-tritium operation 2039; Q of 10, 500 MW from 50 MW). ITER Organization, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in the summary, chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 5, chapter 6
- 8ITER Organization (ed.), ITER Newsline issue 473 (item on the IAEA World Fusion Outlook 2025, dated 14 October 2025). ITER Organization, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 6
- 9World Nuclear News (ed.), Fusion entering implementation phase, says Grossi (report on the IAEA World Fusion Outlook 2025; more than 160 devices; private investment above USD 10 billion; October 2025). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in the summary, chapter 4, chapter 6, chapter 8
- 10World Nuclear News (ed.), Fusion industry raised USD4.5 billion in past year, report says (14 July 2026; Fusion Industry Association 2026 survey: USD 4.48 billion in 12 months, USD 14.24 billion cumulative, 56 companies; an industry survey, weak evidence). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in the summary, chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 6, chapter 7, chapter 8
- 11World Nuclear News (ed.), Access to funding remains a major issue for fusion, says FIA (report on the Fusion Industry Association 2025 survey of 23 July 2025: USD 2.64 billion, USD 9.766 billion cumulative, 53 companies; an industry survey, weak evidence). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 2, chapter 6
- 12US Department of Energy (ed.), Energy Department announces Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap to accelerate commercial fusion power (announcement of 16 October 2025; Build-Innovate-Grow; power on the grid by the mid-2030s; no funding commitment). US Department of Energy, Washington. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 4, chapter 6, chapter 8
- 13American Nuclear Society (ed.), DOE picks eight fusion companies to design pilot power plants (news report of 2 June 2023; USD 46 million milestone programme; the page was read to the paywall). American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park. Observation year 2023. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 8
- 14US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (ed.), Federal Register notice of 26 February 2026, proposed rule on regulatory framework for fusion machines (10 CFR part 30; comments due 27 May 2026; the first 100,000 of 168,363 characters were read). Office of the Federal Register, Washington. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in the summary, chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 6, chapter 7, chapter 8
- 15UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (ed.), A new energy revolution: the UK plan for delivering fusion energy (policy paper of 16 March 2026; over GBP 2.5 billion over five years; GBP 1.3 billion for STEP and UK Fusion Energy; the first 100,000 of 127,790 characters were read). UK Government, London. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in the summary, chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 6, chapter 8
- 16Clean Energy Wire (ed.), German government pledges more than EUR 2 bln for nuclear fusion (news report of 2 October 2025; cabinet plan of 1 October 2025). Clean Energy Wire, Berlin. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in the summary, chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 6, chapter 8
- 17World Nuclear News (ed.), Germany boosts funding for fusion research (news report; Fusion Action Plan of October 2025; more than EUR 2 billion by 2029; about EUR 1.7 billion public research funding and up to EUR 755 million from an infrastructure fund). World Nuclear Association, London. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 2, chapter 6
- 18European Commission (ed.), Commission launches call for evidence to support first-ever EU-wide fusion strategy (news item of 6 June 2025; call open to 1 July 2025; strategy then programmed for the end of 2025). Directorate-General for Energy, Brussels. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 4, chapter 6, chapter 8
- 19American Nuclear Society (ed.), China launches fusion-focused company (news report of 30 July 2025; China Fusion Energy Co., 15 billion yuan registered capital, subsidiary of a state nuclear group; BEST tokamak in Hefei hoped for 2027). American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 2, chapter 8
- 20Coleman, M. and Kovari, M., Global supply of tritium for fusion R and D from heavy water reactors (conference paper, UK Atomic Energy Authority; abstract and introduction read from the PDF; 0 to 27.7 kg available in 2055 across scenarios; 7.4 kg for a demonstration reactor in 2055 in one case). UK Atomic Energy Authority, Abingdon. Observation year 2018. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in the summary, chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 4, chapter 5, chapter 6, chapter 8
- 21Pearson, R.J., The availability and supply of critical natural resources for the realisation of a fusion pilot plant: fuels for fusion (presentation to the US Department of Energy fusion workshop, 1 to 3 June 2022; lithium-6 is 7.4% of natural lithium; blankets need 30 to 90%; supply effectively zero; a company presentation, weak evidence). Kyoto Fusioneering, London. Observation year 2022. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in the summary, chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 4, chapter 6, chapter 8
- 22Theiding, T., Tritium: a few kilograms can make or break nuclear fusion (policy blog post of 6 March 2025; about 25 kg of civilian tritium in 2024; a student fellow commentary, weak evidence). Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 6, chapter 8
- 23Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Eni (eds.), Eni and CFS sign over USD 1 billion power purchase agreement (joint company release of 22 September 2025; 400 MW ARC plant in Chesterfield County, Virginia; grid connection in the early 2030s; a vendor announcement, weak evidence). Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Devens. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in the summary, chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 6, chapter 8
- 24Helion (ed.), Orion, the first fusion power plant (company page; Malaga, Washington; construction from 2025; initial operations stated for 2028; Microsoft agreement for 50 MW; a vendor announcement, weak evidence). Helion Energy, Everett. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in the summary, chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 6, chapter 8
- 25Physics Today (ed.), ITER costs are pinned down with caveats (news report on the 2016 baseline review; review committee chaired by A. Wagner; estimate without contingencies). American Institute of Physics, College Park. Observation year 2016. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 4, chapter 5, chapter 6
- 26UNVERIFIED, not opened: ITER Organization and press (eds.), ITER 2024 baseline additional cost of about EUR 5 billion, taken from search-result summaries. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 6
- 27UNVERIFIED, not opened: Commonwealth Fusion Systems (ed.), offtake agreement with Google for 200 MW from the Virginia ARC plant, June 2025, taken from search-result summaries. Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Devens. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.
- 28UNVERIFIED, not opened: Helion (ed.), Helion secures land and begins building on the site of the first fusion power plant, release of 30 July 2025 (the release page returned a block) and the 2023 Microsoft agreement, taken from search-result summaries. Helion Energy, Everett. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 2
- 29UNVERIFIED, not opened: Commonwealth Fusion Systems (ed.), SPARC status, first plasma reported as a 2027 target, taken from search-result summaries and secondary pages. Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Devens. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 8
- 30UNVERIFIED, not opened: Fusion Industry Association (ed.), The Global Fusion Industry in 2026 (report page returned an error; figures read through a news service). Fusion Industry Association, Washington. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03.
- 31UNVERIFIED, not opened: IAEA (ed.), World Fusion Outlook 2025 (publication page returned a payment error; figures read through news). International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 6
- 32UNVERIFIED, not opened: Huang, J. and colleagues, EAST overview paper, IAEA Fusion Energy Conference 2025, seen as a search listing only. Institute of Plasma Physics, Hefei. Observation year 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 6
- 33UNVERIFIED, not opened: Ward, P. and colleagues, Lithium enrichment threatens to curb fusion deployment, arXiv:2605.04707, 2026, taken from search-result summaries. arXiv, Ithaca. Observation year 2026. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 2, chapter 4, chapter 6, chapter 8
- 34UNVERIFIED, not opened: Lawson, J.D., Some criteria for a power producing thermonuclear reactor, Proceedings of the Physical Society B 70, 6 to 10, 1957, cited from memory. Observation year 1957. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 6
- 35UNVERIFIED, not opened: Zylstra, A.B. et al., Burning plasma achieved in inertial fusion, Nature 601, 542 to 548, 2022, cited from memory. Observation year 2022. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 4, chapter 6
- 36UNVERIFIED, not opened: Abu-Shawareb, H. et al., Achievement of target gain larger than unity in an inertial fusion experiment, Physical Review Letters 132, 065102, 2024, cited from memory. Observation year 2024. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 4, chapter 6
- 37UNVERIFIED, not opened: Creely, A.J. et al., Overview of the SPARC tokamak, Journal of Plasma Physics 86, 865860502, 2020, cited from memory. Observation year 2020. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 6
- 38UNVERIFIED, not opened: Sorbom, B.N. et al., ARC: a compact, high-field, fusion nuclear science facility and demonstration power plant with demountable magnets, Fusion Engineering and Design 100, 378 to 405, 2015, cited from memory. Observation year 2015. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 6
- 39UNVERIFIED, not opened: Abdou, M. et al., Physics and technology considerations for the deuterium-tritium fuel cycle and conditions for tritium fuel self sufficiency, Nuclear Fusion 61, 013001, 2021, cited from memory. Observation year 2021. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 6, chapter 8
- 40UNVERIFIED, not opened: Federici, G. et al., Overview of the DEMO staged design approach in Europe, Nuclear Fusion 59, 066013, 2019, cited from memory. Observation year 2019. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 6
- 41UNVERIFIED, not opened: Knaster, J., Moeslang, A. and Muroga, T., Materials research for fusion, Nature Physics 12, 424 to 434, 2016, cited from memory. Observation year 2016. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 6, chapter 8
- 42UNVERIFIED, not opened: Beidler, C.D. et al., Demonstration of reduced neoclassical energy transport in Wendelstein 7-X, Nature 596, 221 to 226, 2021, cited from memory. Observation year 2021. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 6, chapter 8
- 43UNVERIFIED, not opened: Pearson, R.J., Antoniazzi, A.B. and Nuttall, W.J., Tritium supply and use: a key issue for the development of nuclear fusion energy, Fusion Engineering and Design 136, 1140 to 1148, 2018, cited from memory. Observation year 2018. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 6
- 44UNVERIFIED, not opened: Cabinet Office of Japan (ed.), Fusion Energy Innovation Strategy (national strategy, April 2023), cited from memory. Cabinet Office, Tokyo. Observation year 2023. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 6
- 45UNVERIFIED, not opened: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (eds.), Bringing Fusion to the US Grid, consensus report, 2021, cited from memory. National Academies Press, Washington. Observation year 2021. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 6
- 46UNVERIFIED, not opened: Maslov, M. et al., JET D-T scientific programme, Nuclear Fusion 63, 112002, 2023, cited from memory. Observation year 2023. Accessed 2026-11-03. Cited in chapter 4, chapter 6
C.2Publication record
Publication
- Title
- Exponential Technology Report 2026: Fusion and Frontier Energy, Baseline Edition
- Series
- Reports · Exponential Technology Series XT-14
- Edition
- Baseline Edition 2026 · inaugural annual
- Version
- v1.0.0 · draft for stewardship review
- Publication ID
- NR-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-v1.0.0
- Evidence close
- 30 September 2026
- Publication date
- October 2026
- DOI
- concept and version DOI at deposit
Publisher
- Publisher of record
- The Global Centre for Risk and Innovation (GCRI), for the Nexus Consortium
- Place
- Toronto
- Editor
- Saeed Valadbaygi, Chief Steward and Managing Editor
- Stewards
- GCRI · technical truth · GRF · public meaning · GRA · capital meaning
- Licence
- text CC BY 4.0; data on the terms of each source
- Copyright
- © 2026 GCRI · Nexus Consortium
- Language
- English (en-GB) source edition
- Correspondence
- Registry correction pathway · editorial office
Colophon
- Format
- A4 portrait · screen, print and archival PDF
- Typefaces
- Space Grotesk (display) · Geist (text) · IBM Plex Sans Italic (standfirsts) · IBM Plex Mono (data)
- Design standard
- Reports Foundational Edition, Volume I, Part VII
- Accessibility
- tagged PDF and HTML targets; text alternatives for every figure
- Production
- Reports editorial team, GCRI
Release path for this version
| Step | What happens | When |
|---|---|---|
| Draft | editorial self-check complete at evidence close | October 2026 |
| Steward review | five passes on the exact draft (keys T · M · F · N) | Q4 2026 |
| Approval | publication authority approves the exact digest | before release |
| Deposit | concept and version DOI minted; registry pointer set | at release |
| Succession | the 2027 fusion edition reports changes against this baseline | 2027 |
- Current version
- v1.0.0 draft, stewardship review
- Previous edition
- none, first edition of the series
- Next edition
- NR-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2027-v1.0.0
- Latest version
- resolve the concept DOI or the registry record
- Correction route
- Registry correction pathway
- Notice types
- erratum · addendum · supersession · withdrawal
C.3Corrections log
0correction notices. No edition has been released yet, so none can be corrected; the log below lists each edition’s current version.
| Edition | Version | Date | State | Change | Notice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XT-14 | NR-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-v1.0.0 | October 2026 | Draft | Baseline Edition 2026, inaugural annual edition, | None |
Notice types: erratum, addendum, supersession, withdrawal. A correction is a new version with a published notice; the earlier version stays resolvable, and no edition is ever edited in silence.
C.4Open record
This edition’s open record
- Publication ID
- NR-XTECH-FUSION-GLOBAL-2026-BASELINE-v1.0.0
- Desk identifier and series alias
- NR-XTC-XT-14-2026-BL
- Collection
- None
- DOI
- Concept and version DOI at deposit, on Zenodo with DataCite metadata
- Versions
- Each correction is a new version (isNewVersionOf); the concept DOI resolves to the latest
- Bundle
- RO-Crate 1.2 with CITATION.cff, CodeMeta and PROV-O provenance; a signed manifest
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0 (SPDX CC-BY-4.0) for original material; metadata CC0 1.0
Credit and identity
- ORCID
- Your iD in the deposit and the contribution record; DataCite can then add the work to your ORCID record
- ROR
- Your organisation by its ROR identifier, never by a typed name alone
- CRediT
- Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Software, Validation, Visualisation, Writing, review and editing
- Account
- None needed to contribute; never a password
Find and follow
Search the open indexes for Fusion and Frontier Energy; software is cited by its SWHID from Software Heritage, and a quantified scenario run is preregistered on OSF before it is run. Annotation is your choice: Hypothesis opens this page in its own viewer.
Mirrors and harvest
The DOI is canonical. At release each signed bundle is also given an IPFS content identifier and a bloxberg anchor as mirrors; both are listed in the record once they exist. Zenodo exposes every record over OAI-PMH, and reviews and endorsements can arrive through COAR Notify where the repository supports it.
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}C.5Where this edition sits among the six pillars
Foundry seals the evidence and Universe tests it; Reports publishes it; Standards takes its corrections and Academy teaches from it.
- F03 Sealed observations and indicator series Foundry Sealed observations and indicator series behind a profile (closeout).
- F04 After-action and scenario findings for Universe After-action and scenario findings for chapters 10 and 13 (after action review).
- F05 National Portfolio movement for chapter Foundry National Portfolio movement for chapter 11 (after action review).
- Applied in editions Standards Nexus Standards: applied in editions.
- XT-14 edition Reports Fusion and Frontier Energy 2026, published in every format with its sources, citation and corrections.
- F06 Method and correction findings as change Standards Method and correction findings as change proposals (correction).
- F12 Q4 synthesis informs the next-year Universe Q4 synthesis informs the next-year mandate (renewal).
- Taught in the open Academy Risk Academy: taught in the open.
What Foundry and Universe hand to this edition, and what it hands to Standards, Universe and Academy. From the programme spine; XT-14 is a drafted Baseline Edition, so these handoffs run from its first operational quarter.
| Handoff | Between | What crosses, and when |
|---|---|---|
| F03 | Foundry to Reports | Sealed observations and indicator series behind a profile (closeout). |
| F04 | Universe to Reports | After-action and scenario findings for chapters 10 and 13 (after action review). |
| F05 | Foundry to Reports | National Portfolio movement for chapter 11 (after action review). |
| Ring | Nexus Standards to Reports | Nexus Standards: applied in editions. |
| F06 | Reports to Nexus Standards | Method and correction findings as change proposals (correction). |
| F12 | Reports to Universe | Q4 synthesis informs the next-year mandate (renewal). |
| Ring | Reports to Risk Academy | Risk Academy: taught in the open. |
