Rutherford Energy Ventures (REV) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) are collaborating to pilot a public-private partnership framework designed to accelerate the development of critical infrastructure and enabling technologies required for commercial fusion power.
The pilot will establish FULCRA (Fusion Upscaled Leveraged Consortia for Rapid Acceleration), with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) serving as the site for an initial pilot programme under this innovative collaboration.
FULCRA directly supports DOE’s Fusion Science and Technology (FS&T) Roadmap and its Build–Innovate–Grow strategy. By strategically integrating federal resources, private investment, and shared access to infrastructure, FULCRA will establish an ecosystem that reduces technology development risk, enhances US competitiveness in global fusion markets, and creates regional centres of innovation.
“Achieving commercial fusion energy requires far more than advances in plasma science—it demands validated engineering solutions, qualified materials, and integrated industrial systems at scales never before demonstrated,” said Dr Jean Paul Allain, Associate Director for Fusion Energy Sciences at DOE. “Through FULCRA, we will provide fusion developers with access to sophisticated testing infrastructure and technical resources that no single organisation could feasibly develop independently. Strategic consortia at our national laboratories will enable resource pooling and knowledge sharing that multiplies our collective impact and directly implements key objectives of our Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap.”
FULCRA’s goal is to create multiple specialised testing capabilities—designated as “Fulcrums”—each targeting specific challenges in fusion materials science and nuclear technology development. FULCRA uses these individual Fulcrums as leverage points to create a strong fusion ecosystem that multiplies the impact of both government and private investments.
US fusion energy has reached a pivotal moment, REV said in a press release. “Private-sector developers have made substantial advances in plasma physics and key technologies, with more than $11bn in private capital supporting burning-plasma demonstrations and prototype systems. However, fusion materials and nuclear technologies remain insufficiently developed, including blanket systems, tritium handling, fuel cycle systems, radiation-hardened materials, and integrated component test facilities. Without these capabilities, fusion companies cannot validate commercial designs, qualify supply chains, or demonstrate reliability at scale.”
ORNL and REV will work with DOE to address these gaps through a consortium model that combines federal assets with private sector investment to accelerate technology readiness. This initiative supports President Trump’s Executive Order Unleashing American Energy, which calls for expanding domestic energy production and restoring US energy leadership.
“Achieving American leadership in fusion energy demands innovative partnerships that unite the best of our scientific institutions with the dynamism of private industry,” said Dr Dario Gil, Under Secretary for Science at DOE. “FULCRA exemplifies a practical, results-oriented approach to building the infrastructure our fusion sector needs. Through this collaboration with national laboratories and private industry, we’re establishing testing capabilities that will accelerate innovation and commercialisation.”
Professor Dennis Whyte, Co-founder of REV and MIT Professor of Nuclear Science & Engineering, noted: “The private fusion sector has brought unprecedented momentum to plasma science, but experience in fusion nuclear environments represents the next critical step for the entire field. Every fusion company, regardless of its confinement approach, will not only need these technologies but also experience operating in this environment to achieve economic viability.”
He added: “REV recognises this reality and has emphasised the need to create consortia for shared access to nuclear testing infrastructure and expertise. No single company can afford to build these capabilities alone, and frankly, they shouldn’t have to. This is exactly the kind of strategic partnership that will accelerate the path from confinement demonstrations to practical power plants.”
The ORNL pilot programme’s goal is to assess laboratory capabilities and design the first Fulcrum consortium. REV will work alongside ORNL leadership and technical teams to map existing fusion-relevant infrastructure, evaluate operational and contractual frameworks, and engage potential private-sector consortium partners. Ideally, REV would deliver a governance structure, cost-sharing framework, and partnership agreements for the selected Fulcrum.
As the pilot programme progresses, DOE and REV will work together to refine the FULCRA model and prepare for expansion to additional national laboratories, with the aim of securing American leadership in the global fusion market against competitors such as China.
ORNL is developing the Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX), a next-generation linear plasma device that will support the study of the way plasma will interact long-term with the components of future fusion reactors. It is designed to simulate the extreme conditions of a fusion reactor’s exhaust system to test materials for future fusion energy plants, helping develop robust components that can withstand intense plasma interactions.
Researchers will use MPEX to study how intense plasma affects materials, observing erosion, surface changes, and performance over time, potentially a material’s whole lifetime in weeks. Unlike tokamaks, MPEX allows scientists to adjust plasma parameters (temperature, density, fields) independently, offering more versatile testing.
When MPEX begins operations in 2028, it will help researchers design, model and refine the building blocks of future fusion reactors. The knowledge gained will not only answer today’s plasma-material science questions, but it will also guide the design, engineering and operation of tomorrow’s fusion power plants.
