Fusion pilot power plant

What the forecast means

Milestone stage: net electric demonstration

Fusion energy gain is demonstrated in specific experiments; net plant electricity export remains unresolved

Timing window: 2031–2045. An editorial range, not a statistical confidence interval.

Completion criteria: A fusion installation exports at least 1 MWh of net electricity during a continuous 24-hour evaluation, independently metered after all plant imports and explicitly accounting for startup and stored energy. A forecast, policy target or prototype outside this definition does not resolve it.

This page describes a forecast, rather than an achieved result. Read the methodology and assumptions.

Built on

• Steam-turbine power stationRecorded · 1903enables
• National electricity gridRecorded · 1926requires
• Tokamak magnetic fusionRecorded · 1968enables
• 20-tesla HTS magnetRecorded · 2021enables
• Fusion ignitionRecorded · 2022enables
• First fusion power plant constructionRecorded · 2025enables
• Tokamak breakeven (Q > 1)Forecast · ~2028enables

Led to

• Fusion power fleetsForecast · ~2064enables

Sources & evidence

• CFS ARC technology and target

  CFS describes ARC as a proposed grid-connected fusion power plant and targets net electrical output in the early 2030s. This is a developer target, not an achieved export measurement.

• CFS publishes ARC physics basis 2026-06-04

  CFS announced publication of an ARC physics-basis paper series in June 2026, informed by SPARC design work. Published design studies do not resolve integrated net-electric operation.

• Helion Orion

  Helion describes the Orion plant and planned initial operations. Its distinct approach is relevant to route diversity; a planned plant and power agreement are not demonstrated net electricity.

Original node: Claude. Definition and evidence revision: Astra. Cited researchers and institutions retain achievement credit.

Record reviewed 2026-10-18