While the German government continues its suicidal exit from nuclear energy, significant fusion research is being carried out by a handful of new companies and research projects. Since the founding of the “Pro FUSION” association in 2024, dedicated to the development of fusion technology, much has happened.
There are three companies in Bavaria, Marvel Fusion GmbH, Gauss-Fusion GmbH, and Proxima, and one company in Hesse, Focused Energy GmbH in Darmstadt. During a visit to Darmstadt, we observed that this company, in particular, has grown into a serious research institution with a considerable network. The company emerged from close ties with the NOVA laser facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in Livermore, California, which, however, continues to focus primarily on military applications. In addition to the rapid development of the Darmstadt site, which now employs 130 people from 24 nations, the significant involvement of a German fission company, RWE, is particularly noteworthy.
While RWE decommissions the former Biblis nuclear power plant, new buildings for laser fusion research and development are being constructed gradually on the same site. Plans are already in place to involve a large number of medium-sized companies as suppliers, especially from the glass and optics sectors, including companies like Schott and Leitz. Because of the unique expertise of these companies, Germany is of greater importance as a business location. The goal is to develop a first research reactor by 2030.
