Three fusion companies in DOE’s Milestone program have updates

[Marlin]

Three fusion companies in DOE's Milestone program have updates

https://www.ans.org/news/2026-10-13/article-8481/three-fusion-companies-in-does-milestone-program-have-updates/

[Core Content]

Three participants in the Department of Energy fusion program have announced technical progress and new funding agreements. Xcimer Energy secured additional funding for its laser system, Zap Energy met capacitor design goals, and Commonwealth Fusion Systems joined an artificial intelligence project.

The public-private initiative links financial support to independently verified technical achievements to accelerate commercial viability. These developments address engineering hurdles like high-repetition lasers, durable pulsed-power components, and advanced digital twin simulations necessary for future power plants.

Three U.S. companies participating in the Department of Energy's public-private Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program recently have reported new developments. Xcimer Energy, Zap Energy, and Commonwealth Fusion Systems are among the eight companies that the DOE selected in 2023 to develop fusion pilot plant designs and resolve related...

The goal of the Milestone Program is to accelerate privately funded fusion companies toward commercial viability with the assistance of targeted public-private investment that is linked to independently verified technical and commercial "milestones."

Xcimer Energy: One of two companies in the DOE Milestone Program working on an inertial confinement concept, Xcimer announced that it has finalized an agreement to receive as much as $30.5 million in additional Milestone Program funding after it successfully completes and receives independent verification of certain preagreed technical and commercialization achievements.

Read the full article at ans.org:
https://www.ans.org/news/2026-10-13/article-8481/three-fusion-companies-in-does-milestone-program-have-updates/