Fusion Goes Big at CERAWeek

Building a Global Fusion Energy Industry, From the FIA

Fusion was featured broadly at CERAWeek 2025 in Houston, as events and talks showcased the accelerating path of fusion to commercialization. Hosted by S&P Global from March 10-14, CERAWeek is always one of the largest global energy conferences that convenes energy experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss the future of energy. This year’s surge in fusion representation at the conference is a strong signal that fusion is entering mainstream energy industry discussions.

Here is a roundup of some of the fusion highlights from the week:

  • FIA CEO Andrew Holland joined industry leaders for a panel discussion on “Powering Fusion: Building a Robust Supply Chain.” A key takeaway was that energy firms have a huge opportunity in fusion if they act now. Fusion is an opportunity to expand energy portfolios with reliable power. Major players like Eni, Chevron, and Equinor are already investing in fusion and the supply chain is growing fast. The message was clear: early partnership and investment in infrastructure and pilot projects will shape the future of fusion.
  • U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized the importance of advancing fusion. Wright highlighted the government’s commitment to launching an “American nuclear renaissance,” aiming for more reliable, affordable, and secure energy. He also pointed to the transformative potential of combining AI and quantum computing with fusion energy, saying, “Potential advancements in fusion energy are likely to be demonstrated within this administration.”
  • Amit Singh, CEO of FIA member company NearStar Fusion, took home 1st place at the Energy Venture Day and Pitch Competition, showcasing the company’s innovative approach to fusion. Energy Venture Day highlights energy tech ventures driving efficiency and advancements in the energy transition. The fusion developer’s win brings more representation to the industry and highlights fusion’s game-changing potential in the energy landscape.
  • On the main stage, FIA member Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) CEO Bob Mumgaard joined Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Dominion Energy CEO Bob Blue for a discussion on “Fusion and the Race to Meet Tomorrow’s Electricity Demand.” They discussed how technology, business, and government must work together to bring fusion to the grid. Mumgaard highlighted the importance of a systems approach, involving diverse sectors from venture capitalists to academia. Governor Youngkin iterated the importance of the United States leading fusion efforts: “We’ve got to drive hard to accelerate fusion, otherwise China will.” Here’s a writeup in Reuters about the discussion.
  • CFS Chief Science Officer Brandon Sorbom spoke on the “NextGen Future Energy Leaders” panel. Sorbom highlighted the importance of emerging talent and technologies in shaping the future of fusion.
  • FIA member Tokamak Energy’s Michael Ginsberg spoke at the “Energy Abundance Through Fusion and Superconducting Technology” session, sharing the company’s vision for fusion deployment in the United States. Ginsberg discussed the transformative potential of superconducting technology, which could revolutionize energy solutions for AI data centers and the broader grid.
  • FIA member Type One Energy’s Chief Financial Officer & General Counsel, Charlie Baynes-Reid, spoke on a panel on “Navigating Fusion to Final Investment Decision (FID): A Strategic Timeline.” Baynes-Reid also joined FIA CEO Andrew Holland and other industry leaders for the discussion on building out the global fusion energy supply chain. Later in the week, Baynes-Reid delivered a presentation on Type One Energy’s mission and its approach to de-risking the path to commercial fusion, emphasizing the importance of forming strategic industry partnerships to accelerate progress.
  • Alongside Baynes-Reid, FIA member TAE Technologies CEO Michl Binderbauer participated in the “Navigating Fusion to Final Investment Decision (FID): A Strategic Timeline” panel, where he shared valuable insights into the company’s journey toward secure fusion power. Binderbauer discussed how TAE Technologies has successfully navigated technical, financial, and regulatory challenges to advance its proprietary fusion approach.
  • Brian Berzin, co-founder and CEO of FIA member Thea Energy, spoke at a session on “AI, Dynamic Software Controls and Mass-manufacturable Magnet Array Hardware to Advance a Scalable Form of Fusion Energy.” Berzin discussed Thea Energy’s recent milestones in validating simpler, software-controlled magnet arrays for fusion. These innovations are allowing for a unique path toward an efficient and scalable fusion power plant architecture.
  • Richard Pearson, Co-Founder and Chief Innovator at FIA member Kyoto Fusioneering, attended CERAWeek and participated in the panel discussion on the fusion supply chain alongside Andrew Holland (FIA) and Charlie Baynes-Reid (Type One). Several key points: why the fusion supply chain matters now; the importance of parallel problem-solving; Kyoto Fusioneering’s role in fusion; how the need for fusion has never been clearer; and why the next five years will be critical in proving its viability as the “last energy” humankind needs.

As CERAWeek demonstrated, fusion development is accelerating, with leading companies and experts sharing insights and driving progress. As the race to deploy commercial fusion energy continues, the path forward provides opportunities for various sectors to tackle shared challenges.

March 19, 2025

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