9/9/2026
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION ROADMAP FOR FUSION ENERGY
A Roadmap for Germany's Path to a Fusion Power Plant
At the Fusion Energy Congress hosted by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) in March, acatech – National Academy of Science and Engineering presented the first version of its Research and Innovation Roadmap for Fusion Energy. The roadmap outlines potential development pathways toward a first fusion power plant and identifies the technological, infrastructure, and industrial requirements that need to be put in place to make this possible.
SPRIND was also involved in the process. Dr. Antonia Schmalz provided expert input throughout the development of the roadmap and contributed to its review. At the Fusion Energy Congress, she also discussed the findings on a panel alongside other experts.
The roadmap takes a deliberately goal-oriented approach: starting from the requirements of a functioning fusion power plant, it works backward to identify the necessary technological steps, dependencies, and timelines. It focuses on three development pathways: magnetic fusion, laser fusion, and materials and fuel.
One key finding is that a fusion power plant in Germany by 2045 is theoretically possible, but would require a significant acceleration of current efforts. This includes advances in neutron testing and research infrastructure, breeding blankets, and materials, as well as the industrialization of component manufacturing and a substantial expansion of the skilled workforce and industrial capacity.
Scenarios for the path to fusion energy
A particularly important aspect is the roadmap’s focus on the dependencies between the individual technological building blocks. The path to a fusion power plant does not depend on a single technological breakthrough, but on a wide range of interconnected challenges. Some are specific to individual approaches, while others – such as those related to materials, tritium, norms, and standards – are relevant across multiple fusion pathways.
The roadmap also presents three possible scenarios, each illustrating a different approach to balancing speed, resources, and technological risk. These range from highly competitive development efforts requiring substantial resources, to a strategy focused more strongly on fundamental research, and finally to a combination of shared research infrastructure and competitive programs.
Overall, the roadmap provides a useful framework for understanding the potential future of fusion energy in Germany. It highlights where the technology stands today, which hurdles remain on the path to a fusion power plant, and what research infrastructure and industrial base would be needed to get there.
Fusion Energy Research and Innovation Roadmap
The complete roadmap can be downloaded here:
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