A Question A Day in May - Part 3

This month, in honour of fusion energy week (5-9th May), we have been posting A Question A Day in May for our subscribers (we're on Circle*). We asked our readers for input, and Karl Tischler is answering the fusion questions you've been wanting answered in comprehensive detail.

Check out this summary of the questions so far and read the extended versions on our Circle platform by following the links. It's free to subscribe.

*Circle is a bit like Substack but with extra community features.

Q21. How might EU fusion policy evolve in the next few years? Will the EU support private fusion companies?

Yes, the EU will support private fusion companies. The pivot toward industrial leadership, fit-for-purpose regulation, and new funding models has already begun. The question is whether Europe will accelerate fast enough to claim the commercial rewards it has spent decades preparing for.

Q22. What does the fuel supply chain for fusion look like, and are its resources sustainable?

Fusion’s fuel supply is abundant and sustainable—but solving the short-term tritium gap will be essential for success.

Q23. If we can already achieve fusion in experiments, why don't we have working fusion power plants yet?

Projects like ITER aim to demonstrate a sustained plasma energy gain (Q_plasma = 10) by the late 2030s, producing 500 megawatts of fusion power from about 50 megawatts of plasma heating. However, when considering the energy required to operate the entire facility, ITER will still consume more energy than it generates.

ITER will also not deliver any electricity to the grid. It is a scientific experiment designed to prove that net fusion energy is possible in the plasma itself. The fusion heat will be absorbed by cooling systems, not used to generate electricity. Achieving full-system net electricity production will be the goal of the next step: DEMO, a prototype power plant.

Q24. What are the biggest challenges a new fusion graduate can tackle to help make fusion energy a reality?

Find the challenge that excites you most—and bring your computational skills to bear. Whether you are taming turbulent plasmas, engineering materials to survive the neutron storm, optimizing reactor layouts, or designing new breeding systems, simulation and modeling are the keys to accelerating fusion’s progress.

Fusion has often been called "the engineers’ dream and the engineers’ nightmare." It demands expertise across physics, engineering, and computation. Your ability to model, simulate, and optimize complex systems could be one of the most powerful contributions you can make to turning fusion’s promise into reality.

Q25. How big is China’s lead in fusion—and how important are long plasma durations for future reactors?

China’s achievements at EAST show real strength in steady-state fusion physics and engineering. However, long hydrogen plasma runs—even WEST’s new 22-minute record—are only one piece of the puzzle.

High-fusion-power, D-T burning plasmas; material endurance under neutron flux; efficient tritium breeding; cost-effective plant designs—all still remain to be proven at scale.

Q26. How are superconductors shaping the future of fusion—and what’s the difference between HTS and LTS materials?

In short:

• LTS brought us to the doorstep of fusion.
• HTS could open the door to commercial fusion faster and at smaller scales.
• But high magnetic fields alone are not a guarantee—smart, robust engineering is essential too.

The future of fusion magnets—and fusion energy—looks brighter because of HTS.

Q27. What will electricity from early fusion power plants cost—and how might prices change as the industry scales?

In short:

• First fusion power will likely be very expensive — but that’s expected.
• Over time, learning, scaling, and innovation could drive costs into the competitive range.
• Projections range from $150+/MWh early on to $30–80/MWh long-term — depending on design success, material breakthroughs, and global deployment.

Fusion’s economics will be a long game. We won’t know real costs until the first pilot plants run — but the potential payoff could be extraordinary.

Q28. When will fusion power plants start delivering electricity to the grid?

We could see fusion-powered electricity injected onto the grid within 5 to 10 years if early fusion company targets are achieved — but technical risks remain. The first true fusion power plants — operating reliably day after day — will take longer.

The first “fusion-powered lightbulb” moment is coming soon. The first fusion-powered city will take a little longer.

Q29. How will fusion power plants capture energy?

In short:

• First-generation fusion plants will almost certainly spin turbines using fusion heat — reliable, proven, and understood.
• Molten salt and sCO₂ systems could make those turbines smaller, cheaper, and more efficient.
• Direct conversion methods are on the horizon — they promise stunning efficiency leaps but need more technology breakthroughs.

Fusion might begin by borrowing the steam playbook — but in time, it could invent new, fusion-native ways of capturing energy straight from the plasma.

Q30. Why do fusion reactions focus on hydrogen isotopes—can’t heavier elements be used instead?

Fusion power must start by fusing the lightest, easiest nuclei. Hydrogen isotopes sit at the sweet spot: low barriers, big energy gain, and achievable conditions.

Q31. Can Fusion Deliver Competitive Electricity Costs — and Which Approaches Are Most Promising?

Fusion energy can become cost-competitive — but only if it cracks both the physics and the brutal economics of large-scale energy production.

Read the full answers to all these questions and more by signing up to our free newsletter and community here!

Fusion energy is coming. The fusion industry is growing. Can you afford not to be informed?

Subscribe to Fusion Energy Insights.