Fusion Energy Sciences | Department of Energy Official websites use .gov .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS lock ) or means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Fusion Energy Sciences The Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program has two goals: (1) expand the understanding of matter at very high temperatures and densities, and (2) build the knowledge needed to develop a fusion energy source. Providing energy from fusion is one of the 14 Grand Challenges for Engineering in the 21st Century and FES is the largest federal government supporter of research that is addressing the remaining obstacles to overcoming this challenge. Plasmas are very hot gases, so hot that electrons have been freed from atomic nuclei, forming a collection of ions and electrons that can be controlled by electric and magnetic fields. The known universe consists of over 99% plasma, which form stars such as the sun. Scientist study plasmas in space, like star explosions, to better understand plasma physics. Scientist also study plasmas that occur on Earth, like lightning. There are also plasmas that are manufactured and are seen everywhere, like light bulbs and a store’s neon sign. There are plasmas that have practical applications, such as advanced medical and sanitation procedures. However, there are challenges in creating and sustaining plasmas on Earth. The sun produces light and energy that everyone can see and feel. It does this by a process called fusion. Fusion occurs in a plasma where two nuclei are combined to form a new atom. This occurs many times in the sun generating an enormous amount of energy. Scientist now want to recreate the process here on Earth and collect the energy to make electricity. The promise and potential benefits to humankind from this carbon-free energy source are enormous. Achieving this goal would have far-reaching and significant effects on human civilization and its impact on the planet. Together with its partner science agencies, FES supports a devoted workforce that has made impressive progress since the first fusion experiments over sixty years ago. Progress is made each day by scientists and engineers at DOE national laboratories, universities, and in private industry. With public financial support for this fundamental research, fusion scientists are undertaking fundamental tests of fusion energy’s viability using some of the most ambitious energy projects, the most powerful supercomputers, and the fastest networks in the world today. Learn more about the Fusion Energy Sciences Program. Video Video Url In May 2018, the DIII-D National Fusion Facility in San Diego began an 11-month engineering upgrade to enable a new generation of experiments. Video courtesy of the Department of Energy FES Program Announcements U.S. Department of Energy Announces Selectees for $107 Million Fusion Innovation Research Engine Collaboratives, and Progress in Milestone Program Inspired by NASA about U.S. Department of Energy Announces Selectees for $107 Million Fusion Innovation Research Engine Collaboratives, and Progress in Milestone Program Inspired by NASA Building Bridges: A Vision for the Office of Fusion Energy Sciences about Building Bridges: A Vision for the Office of Fusion Energy Sciences DOE Announces New Decadal Fusion Energy Strategy about DOE Announces New Decadal Fusion Energy Strategy DOE’s Office of Science Releases Vision Outlining the Path to Advancing Fusion Energy Science and Technology about DOE’s Office of Science Releases Vision Outlining the Path to Advancing Fusion Energy Science and Technology FES Science Highlights Protecting Against Large Damaging Energy Bursts in Fusion Energy Devices Scientists found a potential way to suppress large damaging edge-localized modes, providing an approach to protect future devices. about Protecting Against Large Damaging Energy Bursts in Fusion Energy Devices February 12, 2026 Uncertainty Toolbox: A Software Toolbox for Quantifying Uncertainty and More The Uncertainty Toolbox, a popular open-source library for uncertainty quantification and calibration, is a valuable tool for fusion and other research. about Uncertainty Toolbox: A Software Toolbox for Quantifying Uncertainty and More January 13, 2026 Inverted Plasma Shape Shows Promise for Future Fusion Power Plant Design Negative triangularity exhibits high core fusion performance and good power handling, pointing to a compelling approach for future fusion pilot plants. about Inverted Plasma Shape Shows Promise for Future Fusion Power Plant Design August 21, 2025 Improving Predictions for Fusion Device Transport Researchers validate a new workflow for plasma transport models, aiding future fusion device design. about Improving Predictions for Fusion Device Transport August 19, 2025 “Louvers” on the SPARC Fusion Device Should Exhaust Gases as Hot as a Star Public researchers partner with a private company to improve simulations key to controlling plasma heat in a fusion energy power plant. about “Louvers” on the SPARC Fusion Device Should Exhaust Gases as Hot as a Star January 17, 2025 AI Tackles Disruptive Tearing Instability in Fusion Plasma Researchers trained a deep reinforcement learning algorithm to adjust magnetic confinement fields in real time to maintain plasma stability. about AI Tackles Disruptive Tearing Instability in Fusion Plasma January 3, 2025 Springing Simulations Forward with Quantum Computing A new quantum algorithm speeds up simulations of coupled oscillators dynamics. about Springing Simulations Forward with Quantum Computing December 18, 2024 Controller with Integrated Machine Learning Tweaks Fusion Plasmas in Real Time Integrating machine learning with real-time adaptive control produces high-performance plasmas without edge instabilities, a key for future fusion reactors. about Controller with Integrated Machine Learning Tweaks Fusion Plasmas in Real Time December 16, 2024 For Heating Plasma in Fusion Devices, Researchers Unravel How Electrons Respond to Neutral Beam Injection Study finds that neutral beam performance can be experimentally deduced from electron temperature evolution during neutral beam injection. about For Heating Plasma in Fusion Devices, Researchers Unravel How Electrons Respond to Neutral Beam Injection October 23, 2024 In a Fusion Device Plasma, a Steep Ion Temperature Gradient Slows the Growth of Magnetic Islands The first measurement of ion temperature in magnetic islands identified a steep gradient, providing insights for improving plasma confinement in tokamaks. about In a Fusion Device Plasma, a Steep Ion Temperature Gradient Slows the Growth of Magnetic Islands October 15, 2024 View More FES Subprograms Burning Plasma Science: Foundations about Burning Plasma Science: Foundations Burning Plasma Science: Long Pulse and High Power about Burning Plasma Science: Long Pulse and High Power General Plasma Science about General Plasma Science High Energy Density Laboratory Plasmas about High Energy Density Laboratory Plasmas FES Research Resources FES Internal Site about FES Internal Site FES Organization Chart about FES Organization Chart Contact FES about Contact FES Funding Opportunities about Funding Opportunities Workshop Reports about Workshop Reports Contact Information Fusion Energy Sciences U.S. Department of Energy Germantown Building 1000 Independence Avenue., SW Washington, DC 20585 P: (301) 903 - 4941 F: (301) 903 - 8584 E: sc.fes@science.doe.gov