Proxima Fusion steps toward commercial fusion in Europe

To achieve this, the Munich-based Proxima Fusion, which has adopted the stellarator approach to fusion, has signed an MOU with the State of Bavaria, multinational energy company RWE and the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP), which sets out a roadmap for commercial fusion in the 2030s.

Under the MoU, the first step will be the delivery of the demonstration stellarator Alpha near the Max Planck IPP in Garching in the early 2030s.

The Stellaris commercial power plant is planned to follow in Gundremmingen at the site of a former nuclear fission power plant currently being decommissioned by RWE later in the 2030s.

Francesco Sciortino, co-founder and CEO of Proxima Fusion, described the MoU as a milestone that visibly positions the European fusion industry on the global stage.

“It marks the starting point of an industrial ecosystem that consolidates existing and new know-how in Europe and anchors value creation here. This marks the beginning of a long-term industrial growth trajectory over the coming decades, creating new export opportunities for Germany and Europe.”

The partners intend to work together on site selection, permitting and regulatory processes, project structure and financing.

Max Planck IPP will lead on plasma physics and the scientific leadership of the Alpha demonstrator, while Proxima Fusion will lead on engineering, public procurement processes and construction. 

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RWE intends to contribute its experience in the construction and operation of complex power plant facilities and its global industrial network.

Proxima Fusion intends to finance approximately 20% of the project's total costs through private investors. Subject to federal funding, the State of Bavaria has indicated a potential co-financing contribution of 20%.

RWE has also signalled its willingness to participate financially within the framework of the MoU.

Alpha Alliance and supply chains

Ahead of the MoU, Proxima Fusion also announced the ‘Alpha Alliance’ consortium of more than 30 European companies to coordinate manufacturing, system integration and supply chains towards the delivery of Alpha.

Among them are Air Liquide, Eni, RWE Nuclear, Siemens Energy and Thales. With such collaboration crucial for this fledgling industry, a point stressed by the IEA in its 2026 technology innovation update, ultimately the alliance should form the basis for a competitive fusion supply chain in Europe for deploying fusion at scale.

This ‘made in Europe’ approach is very much in line with the EU’s industrial policies. In an earlier interview, Proxima Fusion’s head of international affairs Eszter Kantor highlighted how the Chinese own the solar supply chain and that it shouldn’t be repeated in other industries.

Ten to 15 years ago, a ‘made in Europe’ policy would have been seen as too nationalistic and protectionist, she says, but now the move is away from a globalised supply chain to regionalised supply chains.

“In fusion, we are really lucky because we have a regionalised supply chain. Let's keep it that way: let's strengthen it, because this can really be an advantage for Europe.”

Stellarators for fusion

Proxima Fusion was spun out of Max Planck IPP in 2023 and is evolving its Wendelstein7-X experimental stellarator concept, considered the most advanced of its type. In essence, it comprises a toroidal chamber – like a doughnut – surrounded by a strong magnetic field delivered with high temperature superconducting technology to achieve magnetic confinement of the plasma.

The concept pioneered with the W7-X is that the magnetic field is organised around the short axis of the chamber rather than the long axis, so that the toroidal currents cancel out, which should lead to improved plasma stability and ultimately a compelling approach to commercially viable fusion.

Another company pursuing the stellarator approach that is also Munich-based – and with which Max Planck IPP is also working – is the startup Gauss Fusion.

Gauss Fusion has initiated a series of partnerships of magnet systems, tritium breeding and the breeder blanket technology and is set to start detailed engineering work on its design concept towards a GW-scale plant by the early 2040s, although it hasn’t as yet indicated its differences to Proxima Fusion’s.

"Europe hasn’t been on the fusion map and we are working hard to change this,” Milena Roveda, chief executive of Gauss Fusion, commented in an Energy Transitions podcast.

“We have very good industrial know-how in Europe and it’s a moment where we can stand out. We have started the supply chain with ITER and JET and fusion could be the renaissance for European industry."

Previously, the German government has committed to putting its support behind the development of fusion.