nuclear-news

Could nuclear fusion become economically viable?

 Prototype fusion power plants are under construction. And now scientists
have come up with a measure called “economic Q” to assess their
commercial viability. The idea — published last month in the Journal of
Fusion Energy and taking in such factors as construction costs and energy
price — aligns with growing investor confidence.

Privately held fusion
companies raised $4.5bn over the past year alone, according to the Fusion
Industry 2026 report. There are now more than 50 such companies. Last
month, General Fusion, a Canadian outfit backed by Jeff Bezos, became the
first publicly listed fusion company. These signals hint at an important
shift: fusion energy is gradually being perceived less as a scientific
challenge and more as an economic one. External factors — energy shocks,
geopolitical instability, climate change, energy-intensive AI — have also
cast this perpetually fledgling technology in a flattering light.

 FT 25th Aug 2026, https://www.ft.com/content/9a1f39cf-e622-4c68-bb80-0fb93bcec3ec

August 29, 2026 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, technology