The Duck CurveDOE selects 28 INFUSE fusion projects for $8.5M at labs and universities
The US Department of Energy's Office of Science has selected 28 projects for $8.5 million in fiscal year 2026 funding through INFUSE, its program that pairs private fusion companies with national laboratories and universities, DOE announced on November 2, 2026. Seventeen projects are led by national laboratories and 11 by universities, with 22 companies among the partners. Budgets run from $100,000 to $500,000 per project, for one or two years.
The round is bigger than the last. In September 2025, DOE announced $6.1 million for 20 INFUSE projects, all selected for one-year awards.
The money does not go to the companies. Under the program's current call, INFUSE funds the partnering laboratory or university, and the company covers at least 20% of the project's full cost. DOE also notes that selection for award negotiations is not a commitment to issue an award.
The selection list is mostly fusion developers. Thea Energy has three of the 28 projects; Realta Fusion, Type One Energy, Pacific Fusion and OpenStar have two each; Helion, Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Xcimer Energy one apiece. Westinghouse, the Electric Power Research Institute and SuperPower, working on targets for making REBCO superconducting wire, are on it too. DOE's separate milestone program, which pays developers only for verified milestones, is well represented: CFS, Realta, Type One and Xcimer are on its 2023 awardee list, and Thea says it was selected as an inaugural awardee.
The next call opens fusion pilot plant design reviews to INFUSE support. DOE says the fiscal 2027 call, opened before this round was announced, adds a review topic for pilot plant preconceptual designs and expands eligibility to consortia. The call covers reviews of pilot plant designs, essential subcomponents and complementary systems, strongly encourages a cost share of 50% or more for them, and makes fiscal 2027 funds subject to the availability of appropriations. Applications close on December 13, 2026. Our fusion reference page tracks DOE's other fusion money.
Sources
Primary
- DOE's Office of Science Announces $8.5 Million for Innovative Fusion Energy Public-Private Partnerships · US Department of Energy, Office of Science
Supporting
- DOE Announces $46 Million for Commercial Fusion Energy Development · US Department of Energy (Wayback Machine capture, 2023-06-01)
- Energy Department Announces $134 Million to Advance U.S. Fusion Leadership Through Targeted Research · US Department of Energy
- U.S. Department of Energy Certifies Thea Energy's Fusion Pilot Plant Preconceptual Design · Thea Energy
- INFUSE Public-Private Research Partnership Program FY 2027 Request for Assistance · DOE Office of Fusion Energy Sciences / INFUSE (ORNL)
- Department of Energy Announces $8.5 Million for Fusion Public-Private Partnerships (INFUSE FY26 awards list) · US Department of Energy, Office of Science
- Information for Submitting an Application · INFUSE (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
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