DOE Funds 28 Fusion Energy Projects
The Department of Energy's Office of Science awarded $8.5 million in fiscal year 2026 funding to 28 projects pairing private fusion companies with national labs and universities.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Nuclear
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science announced $8.5 million in fiscal year 2026 funding for 28 awards through its INFUSE program, which partners private fusion companies with DOE National Laboratories and universities. The selected projects include 17 led by National Laboratories and 11 led by universities, involving 22 commercial enterprises.
Why it matters
The awards are designed to help bring the United States closer to economically viable fusion energy by linking industry developers with public research institutions. The program also opened its next funding cycle, signaling continued federal support for the sector.
The Office of Science announced $8.5 million for 28 INFUSE awards, with individual budgets between $100,000 and $500,000 and partnerships spanning 22 commercial enterprises. The announcement does not indicate outcomes or performance results for the selected projects, which remain unreported.
The players
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science
The federal office that funds basic research in physics and related fields and administers the INFUSE program, which links fusion developers with national research resources.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
A DOE National Laboratory in Tennessee whose staff help lead the INFUSE program's management team.
The details
Projects were selected through a competitive peer review process managed by the INFUSE leadership team, which operates at Oak Ridge, Princeton Plasma Physics, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories. Concurrently, the team opened the FY 2027 Request for Assistance, which adds expanded eligibility for consortia and a new review topic for fusion pilot plant preconceptual designs.
Timeline
November 2, 2026: DOE announces $8.5 million for 28 INFUSE awards.
Fiscal year 2026: Funding year for the selected awards.
Prior to November 2, 2026: INFUSE team opens the FY 2027 Request for Assistance.
Big Picture
The INFUSE program, run by the DOE Office of Science, continues to channel public research capacity toward private fusion developers. Its expanded consortia eligibility and pilot plant review topic extend that model toward commercial-scale fusion power.
Companies and researchers interested in fusion development can now apply to the FY 2027 INFUSE cycle, which allows consortium applications. Taxpayers funding these awards gain visibility into how federal research dollars are being directed toward commercial fusion efforts.
The takeaway
Fusion developers seeking federal partnership should watch the FY 2027 cycle, which now accepts consortium applications and pilot plant design proposals. Early engagement with a national laboratory partner appears central to the program's competitive review.
What happens next
The FY 2027 Request for Assistance opened, with proposals for the new fusion pilot plant review topic and consortia eligibility now being accepted.
Further reading
Explore more on nuclear energy developments shaping the fusion sector.
More information
View the full list of INFUSE selected projects on the DOE Office of Science website.
