Will Fusion Solve Our Energy Problems?

Fusion energy would transform the energy landscape. Without the carbon emissions of fossil fuels, the potential risks of nuclear fission, or the intermittent supply from wind and solar, the technology would define a new era of clean and reliable electricity.

Over the last several years, investors have underwritten billions of dollars in private-sector R&D and early-stage commercialization efforts. Researchers at Columbia University have supported this effort through basic research, technical consulting, and workforce development. The new Columbia Fusion Research Center aims to deepen those efforts by strengthening existing partnerships with industry and providing a strategic framework for collaboration with new partners.

Carlos Paz-Soldan, associate professor of applied physics and applied mathematics at Columbia Engineering, is the center’s founding director.

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What is the promise of fusion energy?

For one, it’s a dispatchable energy source, which means it can be built where it’s needed. The inputs are seawater and lithium, so it’s an opportunity for true energy sovereignty. The waste streams are manageable, which puts it in a different ballpark from traditional nuclear energy or fossil fuel sources. It’s also what we call baseload energy, meaning it’s able to run when the wind isn't blowing and the sun isn't shining.

How does fusion work?

When we heat certain kinds of hydrogen atoms to very high temperatures, they release high-energy neutrons that contain energy that we can capture and use. The hydrogen atoms transform into a state of matter called plasma, which is far hotter than the Sun. It’s so hot that no material can contain it, so we have to use magnetic fields to prevent it from touching (and destroying) the walls of the reactor.

What are some of the biggest engineering challenges?

Researchers in academia and industry have spent decades developing technologies that can contain plasma and heat it to more than 100 million degrees Celsius. The challenges include designing magnetic fields to keep the plasma stable and away from reactor walls, building materials and components that can endure intense heat and neutron bombardment, developing blanket systems to capture energy from high-energy neutrons and convert it into usable heat, and developing precise control systems to manage plasma behavior in real-time.

When could we see the first fusion power plants plugging into the grid?

Certain things have to happen before electrons generated by fusion start flowing onto the grid, and those things cost money. So, it depends on how much our society — both the government and private capital — is willing to invest. If that funding is sufficient to enable continued growth in the sector, then we're looking at a timeframe in the 2030s. Optimistic people will tell you mid-2030s, but I personally envision a late-2030s scenario if the required investments are made.

What hurdles stand in the way?

Most people still don’t think this technology is even possible, so it’s essential that we see demonstration facilities to prove the viability of this technology. Furthermore, public awareness remains low – what fraction of our society understands the potential benefits fusion offers? One of our partners, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, has a project in Massachusetts that’s well on its way to demonstrating long-duration energy production from fusion plasma. Other companies are gathering momentum for their own demonstration devices. Efforts like that will unlock new funding that’s essential for the next stage of fusion power generation.

How is the Fusion Research Center helping to achieve this goal?

The new Center will promote basic research, knowledge transfer and technical support, workforce development, and public outreach. We’re actively expanding collaboration with industry partners. One of our most exciting new initiatives is the branded fellowship program, which pairs students with companies on complementary projects. The objective is to enable rigorous and useful research while building a skilled fusion workforce. The Center also plans to launch seed funding calls to support early-stage research, encouraging broader participation across the university and diversifying the research portfolio.

How else does the Center support its industry partners?

We can provide on-call technical expertise to our industry partners, offering rapid support for specialized calculations and design assessments that companies may not have the capacity to handle in-house. Once a master research agreement is in place, new collaborations can be launched very quickly. Our goal is to complement our partners’ core competencies.

Why is Columbia uniquely positioned to lead in this moment?

This is one of the first university centers focused on supporting the fusion industry’s growth. We’re not just pursuing academic milestones, we’re working closely with companies to accelerate their progress and guide our academic work. That alignment is rare, and it reflects something distinctive about Columbia Engineering: a willingness to engage directly with industry to solve urgent global challenges.

Lead Photo Credit: Kailey Whitman