CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#EnergyDominance–Rutherford Energy Ventures (REV) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are collaborating to pilot an innovative public-private partnership framework designed to accelerate the development of critical infrastructure and enabling technologies required for commercial fusion power. The pilot will establish FULCRA (Fusion Upscaled Leveraged Consortia for Rapid Acceleration), with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) serving as the site for an initial pilot program under this innovative collaboration.
The U.S. fusion energy ecosystem has reached a pivotal moment. Private-sector developers have made substantial advances in plasma physics and key technologies, with more than $11 billion in private capital driving progress toward burning-plasma demonstrations and prototype systems. However, fusion materials and nuclear technologies—including blanket systems, tritium handling, fuel cycle systems, radiation-hardened materials, and integrated component test facilities—remain insufficiently developed. Without these capabilities, the fusion companies cannot validate commercial designs, qualify supply chains, or demonstrate reliability at scale. As competitors, including China, accelerate their national fusion infrastructure programs, American leadership requires immediate action to close these technology gaps.
ORNL and REV will work with the DOE to addresses these gaps through a consortium model that strategically combines federal assets with private sector investment to accelerate technology readiness. This initiative supports President Trump’s Executive Order Unleashing American Energy, which calls for expanding domestic energy production and restoring U.S. energy leadership. Under the Trump Administration, the Department of Energy is pursuing innovative public-private partnership approaches that harness America’s exceptional scientific talent and national laboratory capabilities to advance fusion commercialization, strengthen domestic supply chains, and establish American leadership in next-generation energy technologies.
“Achieving American leadership in fusion energy demands innovative partnerships that unite the best of our scientific institutions with the dynamism of private industry,” said Dr. Dario Gil, Under Secretary for Science at the Department of Energy. “FULCRA exemplifies a practical, results-oriented approach to building the infrastructure our fusion sector needs. Through this collaboration with national laboratories and private industry, we’re establishing testing capabilities that will accelerate innovation and commercialization. Under President Trump’s direction, we’re deploying America’s unmatched scientific resources more efficiently than ever to secure our energy future.”
FULCRA directly supports DOE’s Fusion Science and Technology (FS&T) Roadmap and its Build–Innovate–Grow strategy. By strategically integrating federal resources, private investment, and shared access to infrastructure, FULCRA will establish an ecosystem that reduces technology development risk, enhances U.S. competitiveness in global fusion markets, and creates regional centers of innovation.
“Achieving commercial fusion energy requires far more than advances in plasma science—it demands validated engineering solutions, qualified materials, and integrated industrial systems at scales never before demonstrated,” said Dr. Jean Paul Allain, Associate Director for Fusion Energy Sciences at DOE. “Through FULCRA, we will provide fusion developers with access to sophisticated testing infrastructure and technical resources that no single organization could feasibly develop independently. Strategic consortia at our national laboratories will enable resource pooling and knowledge sharing that multiplies our collective impact and directly implements key objectives of our Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap.”
FULCRA’s goal is to create multiple specialized testing capabilities—designated as “Fulcrums”—each targeting specific challenges in fusion materials science and nuclear technology development. True to its name, FULCRA uses these individual Fulcrums as leverage points to create a strong fusion ecosystem that multiplies the impact of both government and private investments.
“The private fusion sector has brought unprecedented momentum to plasma science, but experience in fusion nuclear environments represents the next critical step for the entire field,” said Prof. Dennis Whyte, Co-founder of REV and MIT Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering. “Every fusion company, regardless of its confinement approach, will not only need these technologies but also experience operating in this environment to achieve economic viability. REV recognizes this reality and has emphasized the need to create consortia for shared access to nuclear testing infrastructure and expertise. No single company can afford to build these capabilities alone, and frankly, they shouldn’t have to. This is exactly the kind of strategic partnership that will accelerate the path from confinement demonstrations to practical power plants.”
The ORNL pilot program’s goal is to assess laboratory capabilities and design the first Fulcrum consortium. Specifically, REV will work alongside ORNL leadership and technical teams to map existing fusion-relevant infrastructure, evaluate operational and contractual frameworks, and engage potential private-sector consortium partners. Ideally, REV would deliver a governance structure, cost-sharing framework, and partnership agreements for the selected Fulcrum.
This initiative establishes the foundation for a new era of collaboration between the federal government and the private sector. Through strategic infrastructure investments, shared-use testbeds, and flexible governance models, FULCRA will accelerate fusion technology maturation while protecting U.S. competitiveness and ensuring taxpayer-funded innovations serve the national interest.
As the pilot program progresses at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, DOE and REV will work together to refine the FULCRA model and prepare for expansion to additional national laboratories, creating a thriving, productive ecosystem that enables the commercialization of fusion energy and delivers on America’s commitment to energy dominance.
About REV
REV is the pre-eminent expert in fusion science and technology with deep experience at the intersection of innovation, finance, and public-private partnerships. With unparalleled knowledge of both the technical requirement for fusion commercialization and the financial engineering structures needed to mobilize investment, REV is uniquely positioned to design and coordinate stakeholder ecosystems that will ensure cutting edge science becomes commercially profitable while also ensuring American energy dominance.
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