From concept to commercialisation: Engineering the science of fusion

As Fusion energy edges closer to viability, the challenge is no longer science fiction – it’s engineering, integration and investment. Lee Patrick explores what it will take to turn breakthrough into commercialisation and the future energy source.

For decades, fusion energy has remained a concept of the future – an extraordinary scientific goal but always labelled as “an energy of the future”. But that future is now coming into focus. Around the world, investment is accelerating, technologies are advancing, and the narrative is shifting – from whether fusion is feasible to planning its integration into the energy landscape.

The global landscape

Globally, momentum is growing. In the United States, a diverse private-sector ecosystem – fuelled by venture capital and technical ambition – is advancing a range of fusion approaches. Across Asia, government-led programs in China, Japan and South Korea are making rapid strides. Europe continues to benefit from the legacy of ITER, while emerging players in Germany and beyond are pioneering alternative technologies and industrial models.

In the UK, public investment remains focused on magnetic confinement. Recent funding commitments have reaffirmed support for flagship initiatives like STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) and Fusion Futures. In June 2025, the UK government announced a £2.5 billion investment over five years to advance programmes including the STEP prototype at the former West-Burton coal-fired power station – part of a broader industrial strategy to transform legacy energy infrastructure into engines of clean growth.

Wherever you look, it is apparent that fusion is less of a future possibility and more of a defined pathway. The shift is not simply about scientific breakthrough but the growing recognition that fusion’s next chapter must move beyond the initial concept. The challenge now lies in engineering the technology for commercial, scalable deployment.

Turning science into systems

The next phase brings a different set of technical and industrial questions. Industry bodies must now prove that fusion technologies can operate reliably, safely and economically. This includes developing materials that can withstand extreme heat and radiation, designing heat extraction and tritium breeding systems, and showing how these can be manufactured, maintained and regulated at scale.

Many of these systems remain at low technology readiness levels. Their progression requires more than isolated advances; it calls for whole system thinking. Demonstrator projects and test platforms will be essential to validate components and designs under realistic conditions. These focused and pragmatic intermediate steps will be critical in bridging the gap between research and deployment.

A new formula for funding fusion

As fusion programmes mature, integration is emerging as critical priority – across technologies, disciplines, supply chains and regulatory environments. While device designs remain diverse, many supporting systems are shared, presenting a clear opportunity to move away from bespoke solutions and toward common platforms and standards that enable replication, scalability, and global export.

Realising this opportunity demands more than scientific excellence. It requires organisations bridging innovation and real-world delivery – bringing together mechanical, electrical, materials, and system engineering with a focus on safety, cost-efficiency and constructability. These integrator roles, working in tandem with technology developers, will be pivotal in transforming fusion from concept to commercial reality. 

No skills, no fusion

Fusion’s success depends not only on technology, but on the people and systems that can deliver it. Today’s global supply chains lack the scale to support large-scale fusion deployment—especially in specialist areas like advanced manufacturing, testing, and complex construction. Meanwhile, the engineering talent needed is beginning to grow, but must expand rapidly, supported by long-term investment in education and training.

Clear, sustained demand signals will be critical. Without them, institutions and employers cannot commit to building the skills and capabilities fusion requires. This is a global challenge—and a global opportunity—to develop the workforce and supply chain that will turn fusion’s promise into reality.

Delivering the future of fusion

Fusion won’t be delivered by a single technology or national programme. Instead, a range of approaches will likely prove viable shaped by geography, infrastructure, and market needs. Yet all are undergoing the same fundamental shift: from scientific proof to practical delivery.

This transition brings both opportunity and responsibility. It demands collaboration across borders, integration across disciplines, and a shared commitment to scalable, risk-informed design. Public and private actors must work together—across industries and timeframes—to maintain momentum.

Fusion’s promise is vast, but so are the demands of turning that promise into power. After decades of anticipation, further delay risks eroding public trust and political will. The sector must now deliver not just energy, but careers, economic value, and visible progress. Because if aspiration never leaves the lab, the world will eventually stop listening.

This is more than a technical challenge—it’s a generational engineering effort. One that offers a rare opportunity for governments, industries, engineers, and communities to shape how we power the decades ahead.