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Nuclear Fusion and Advanced Materials: Emerging Opportunities

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    Report

  • 144 Pages
  • October 2023
  • Region: Global
  • BCC Research
  • ID: 4895939

Growth Potential for the Space Industry Presents Lucrative Opportunities

The global market for nuclear fusion technologies is expected to increase from $1.7 billion in 2035 to $6.8 billion by the end of 2040, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31.6% during the forecast period of 2035-2040.

  • The North American market for nuclear fusion technologies is expected to increase from $1.2 billion in 2035 to $4.4 billion by the end of 2040, with a CAGR of 29.4% during the forecast period of 2035-2040.
  • The Asia-Pacific market for nuclear fusion technologies is projected to increase from $182.3 million in 2035 to $1 billion by the end of 2040, with a CAGR of 41.4% during the forecast period of 2035-2040.

Since the 1950s, the possibility of fusion has been understood. Large-scale tests are not necessary to predict performance as simulation codes can now describe fusion processes in greater detail because of rapidly growing computer power. Also, quick digital controls help to better regulate the suppression of plasma oscillations, which are responsible for the energy leak from the core fusion event. These and other technological developments have made it possible for fusion to evolve more quickly.

Although government investment continues to play a significant role in the fusion landscape, private investment has increased recently as the progress has been sufficiently encouraging and there is an urgent demand for zero-carbon energy. This increased funding comes from a variety of sources, including conventional technology venture capital, strategic investments by established energy firms, like Eni and Equinor's in Commonwealth Fusion Systems, and seed investments from extremely wealthy people, like Sam Altman's 2021 investment in Helion Energy. Private companies are building larger fusion machine components and designing full-scale prototypes due to access to funding; many start-ups aim to run commercial fusion machines between 2031-2035.

Moreover, there are a growing number of start-ups that are entering into the nuclear fusion industry. The companies are working on different technologies such as magnetic confinement, inertial confinement, hybrid, and others in order to develop fusion power. For instance, in the past five years there were 18 new nuclear fusion start-ups founded. On average from 2019 to 2022 there were around four start-ups founded every year. The start-ups are also backed by big publicly listed companies as nuclear fusion is achieving breakthroughs and inching closer to the development of fusion power. Google and Chevron became part of a $250 million funding raised by TAE Technologies in June 2022. Also, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas, a Japanese investment firm, also took part in the round and announced that it will assist TAE in introducing its fusion technology to the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

Report Scope

The report provides an overview of the nuclear fusion market and analyzes market trends. The nuclear fusion market is through in the stages of R&D, and from the fusion company’s information it is expected to be commercialized between 2032 to 2038. Hence, 2035 is considered as the base year, and the report provides market data for the forecast period 2036 through 2040 by estimating values derived from manufacturers. Revenue forecasts for this period are segmented based on technology, application, and geography.

The report also includes a section on the major players in the market. Further, it explains the major drivers, competitive landscape, and current trends of the nuclear fusion market. The report concludes with a focus on the nuclear fusion vendor landscape and includes profiles of the major players operating in the global market.

The report includes:

  • 14 data tables and 53 additional tables
  • An overview of global market outlook for nuclear fusion and advanced materials
  • Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2035-2040, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2040
  • An identification of market trends, issues and forecasts impacting the global market and a breakdown of the market based on type, technology, and region
  • An outline of the recent technological advances in certain advanced materials and their use in the commercialization of nuclear fusion power over the next few decades
  • Coverage of nuclear fusion regulations across several countries, government funded projects, start-ups in nuclear fusion, and alternative energy investments opportunities in the oil & gas industry
  • A discussion of the key advanced materials, the technologies related to fusion power, and their current and future potential
  • Company profiles of major players within the industry, including Commonwealth Fusion Systems, First Light Fusion Ltd, General Fusion Inc., HB11 Energy Holdings Pty Ltd, and Marvel Fusion GmbH

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction
  • Overview
  • Study Goals and Objectives
  • Reasons for Doing This Study
  • Scope of Report
  • What's New in this Update?
  • Methodology
  • Information Sources
  • Geographic Breakdown
Chapter 2 Summary and Highlights
  • Market Outlook
Chapter 3 Market and Technology Overview
  • Nuclear Fusion History
  • Nuclear Fusion Regulations by Country
  • U.S.
  • U.K.
  • France
  • Germany
  • Russia
  • China
  • South Korea
  • Analysis of the Abovementioned Regulations
  • Value Chain Analysis of the Nuclear Fusion Industry
  • Research & Development
  • Component and Fuel Suppliers
  • System Integrators/Nuclear Fusion Companies
  • Potential Industry Applications
  • Patent Analysis
Chapter 4 Market Dynamics
  • Market Drivers
  • Increased Funding by Top Venture Capitalist and Other Private Investors
  • Increase in Government Funded Projects
  • Growing Number of Start-ups in Nuclear Fusion
  • Growing Need for Additional Amount of Energy and Zero Carbon Energy
  • Market Opportunities
  • Alternative Energy Investments Opportunities in the Oil & Gas Industry
  • Growth Potential for Space Industry
  • Integration of Artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Technologies for Nuclear Fusion
  • Market Challenges
  • High Capital Costs for Constructing and Commissioning of Nuclear Fusion Facilities
  • Issues Faced by Plasma Heating, Confinement, and Stability
  • Low Availability of Tritium
  • Regulation and Licensing of Commercial Fusion Energy Facilities
Chapter 5 Market Breakdown by Technology
  • Overview
  • Magnetic Confinement Fusion
  • Inertial Confinement Fusion
  • Magneto Inertial Fusion
Chapter 6 Market Breakdown by Application
  • Overview
  • Electricity Generation
  • Space Propulsion
  • Others (Marine Propulsion, Medical, Off-Grid Energy, Hydrogen and/or Clean Fuels, Industrial Heating)
Chapter 7 Market Breakdown by Region
  • Overview
  • North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
  • Mexico
  • Europe
  • Germany
  • U.K.
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
  • APAC
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • Thailand
  • Rest of APAC
  • Rest of the World
Chapter 8 Competitive Landscape
  • Strategic Analysis
  • Recent Key Developments
  • Competitive Analysis
  • Analysis on Alternative Power Generation Technologies
  • Time by Proof-of-Concept to Early Commercialization for Energy Technologies
  • Is Small Modular Reactor (SMR) a Threat for Nuclear Fusion?
Chapter 9 Company Profiles
  • AVALANCHE ENERGY DESIGNS LLC
  • COMMONWEALTH FUSION SYSTEMS (CFS)
  • CTFUSION
  • EX-FUSION INC.
  • FOCUSED ENERGY
  • FIRST LIGHT FUSION LTD
  • GENERAL FUSION INC.
  • HB11 ENERGY HOLDINGS PTY LTD
  • HELION ENERGYINC.
  • MARVEL FUSION GMBH
  • MAGNETO-INERTIAL FUSION TECHNOLOGIES INC. (MIFTI)
  • PRINCETON FUSION SYSTEMS INC.
  • TAE TECHNOLOGIES INC.
  • TOKAMAK ENERGY LTD.
  • ZAP ENERGY INC.
Chapter 10 Appendix: Acronyms
List of Tables
Summary Table: Global Market for Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Region, Through 2040
Table 1: Notable Developments in the Timeline of Nuclear Fusion, 1950-2022
Table 2: Principal Regulations Currently Applicable to Fusion R&D in the U.K.
Table 3: Principal Regulations Currently Applicable to Fusion R&D in France
Table 4: Principal Regulations Currently Applicable to Fusion in China
Table 5: List of Component Manufacturer and Headquarters
Table 6: Global Market for Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Type, Through 2040
Table 7: Three Key Technologies of Fusion and Their Challenges
Table 8: Global Market for Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Application, Through 2040
Table 9: Global Projections of Electricity Consumption, by Energy Source, 2025-2050
Table 10: Global Market for Electricity Generation by Nuclear Fusion, by Region, Through 2040
Table 11: Global Market for Nuclear Fusion Space Propulsion Systems, by Region, Through 2040
Table 12: Global Market for Other Applications of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Region, Through 2040
Table 13: Global Nuclear Fusion Expected Commercialisation and Capacity, by Country
Table 14: Global Market for Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Region, Through 2040
Table 15: U.S. Nuclear Fusion Device Status and Design Stage, by Device and Organization
Table 16: Canadian Nuclear Fusion Device Status and Design Stage, by Device and Organization
Table 17: Summary of Personnel and Institutions in Canada for Nuclear Research
Table 18: North American Market for Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Application, Through 2040
Table 19: North American Market for Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Country, Through 2040
Table 20: German Nuclear Fusion Device Status and Design Stage, by Device and Organization
Table 21: U.K. Nuclear Fusion Device Status and Design Stage, by Device and Organization
Table 22: French Nuclear Fusion Device Status and Design Stage, by Device and Organization
Table 23: Italian Nuclear Fusion Device Status and Design Stage, by Device and Organization
Table 24: Spanish Nuclear Fusion Device Status and Design Stage, by Device and Organization
Table 25: Rest of European Nuclear Fusion Device Status and Design Stage, by Device and Organization
Table 26: European Market for Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Application, Through 2040
Table 27: European Market for Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Country, Through 2040
Table 28: Chinese Nuclear Fusion Device Status and Design Stage, by Device and Organization
Table 29: Japanese Nuclear Fusion Device Status and Design Stage, by Device and Organization
Table 30: Indian Nuclear Fusion Device Status and Design Stage, by Device and Organization
Table 31: Thai Nuclear Fusion Device Status and Design Stage, by Device and Organization
Table 32: Rest of APAC Nuclear Fusion Device Status and Design Stage, by Device and Organization
Table 33: APAC Market for Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Application, Through 2040
Table 34: APAC Market for Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Country, Through 2040
Table 35: South American Nuclear Fusion Device Status and Design Stage, by Device and Organization
Table 36: RoW Market for Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Application, Through 2040
Table 37: Recent Key Developments, 2022 and 2023*
Table 38: Nuclear Fusion Companies Expected Capacity Generation
Table 39: Avalanche Energy Designs LLC: Company Snapshot
Table 40: Commonwealth Fusion Systems: Company Snapshot
Table 41: Commonwealth Fusion Systems: Recent Developments
Table 42: CTFusion: Company Snapshot
Table 43: EX-Fusion Inc.: Company Snapshot
Table 44: EX-Fusion Inc.: Recent Developments
Table 45: Focused Energy: Company Snapshot
Table 46: Focused Energy: Recent Developments
Table 47: First Light Fusion Ltd: Company Snapshot
Table 48: First Light Fusion Ltd: Recent Developments
Table 49: General Fusion Inc.: Company Snapshot
Table 50: General Fusion Inc.: Recent Developments
Table 51: HB11 Energy Holdings Pty Ltd: Company Snapshot
Table 52: HB11 Energy Holdings Pty Ltd: Recent Developments
Table 53: Helion Energy Inc.: Company Snapshot
Table 54: Helion Energy Inc.: Recent Developments
Table 55: Marvel Fusion GmbH: Company Snapshot
Table 56: Marvel Fusion GmbH: Recent Developments
Table 57: MIFTI: Company Snapshot
Table 58: Princeton Fusion Systems Inc.: Company Snapshot
Table 59: Princeton Fusion Systems Inc.: Recent Developments
Table 60: TAE Technologies Inc.: Company Snapshot
Table 61: TAE Technologies Inc.: Recent Developments
Table 62: Tokamak Energy Ltd: Company Snapshot
Table 63: Tokamak Energy Ltd: Recent Developments
Table 64: Zap Energy Inc.: Company Snapshot
Table 65: Zap Energy Inc.: Recent Developments
Table 66: Acronyms Used in This Report
List of Figures
Summary Figure: Global Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Region, 2035
Figure 1: Comparison between Prescriptive and Goal-Setting Approaches
Figure 2: Nuclear Fusion Industry Market Value Chain
Figure 3: Global Patent Applications on Nuclear Fusion Technologies, 2016-2022
Figure 4: Global Shares of Patent Applications on Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Region, 2021
Figure 5: Key Drivers Fueling the Growth of the Market for Nuclear Fusion Technologies
Figure 6: Funds Raised, by Nuclear Fusion Companies, Till 2022
Figure 7: Shares of Funds Raised, by Nuclear Fusion Companies, Through 2022
Figure 8: Roadmap and Expected Timeline for ITER Project
Figure 9: Number of New Nuclear Fusion Start-ups, 2017-2022
Figure 10: Global Total Primary Energy Consumption Projections, 2020-2050
Figure 11: Global Projections of Shares of Primary Energy Consumption, by Energy Source, 2050
Figure 12: Oil Supply in the Net Zero Pathway, 2020 & 2050
Figure 13: Key Opportunities the Market for Nuclear Fusion Technologies
Figure 14: Oil & Gas Company Investments in Nuclear Fusion Power
Figure 15: Major Challenges Faced by Nuclear Fusion Power Plant Facilities
Figure 16: Shares of the Cost for Magnetic Confinement Fusion Reactors
Figure 17: Regulatory Hazards of Particular Concern for Commercial Fusion Facilities
Figure 18: Global Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Type, 2035
Figure 19: Global Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Type, 2040
Figure 20: Global Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Application, 2035
Figure 21: Global Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Application, 2040
Figure 22: Global Projections of Electricity Consumption, by Energy Source, 2025-2050
Figure 23: Global Market Shares of Electricity Generation by Nuclear Fusion, by Region, 2035
Figure 24: Global Market Shares of Electricity Generation by Nuclear Fusion, by Region, 2040
Figure 25: Global Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Space Propulsion Systems, by Region, 2035
Figure 26: Global Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Space Propulsion Systems, by Region, 2040
Figure 27: Global Market Shares of Other Applications of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Region, 2035
Figure 28: Global Market Shares of Other Applications of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Region, 2040
Figure 29: Global Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Companies, by Region, 2022
Figure 30: Global Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Region, 2035
Figure 31: Global Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Region, 2040
Figure 32: U.S. Market Shares of Electricity Generation, by Energy Source, 2022 and 2050
Figure 33: Canadian Market Shares of Electricity Generation, by Energy Source, 2022 and 2050
Figure 34: Mexican Market Shares of Electricy Generation, by Energy Source, 2021
Figure 35: North American Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Application, 2035
Figure 36: North American Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Application, 2040
Figure 37: North American Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Country, 2035
Figure 38: North American Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Country, 2040
Figure 39: European Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Projects by Public (Government and Institutions) and Private Organizations, 2022
Figure 40: German Market Shares of Electricy Generation, by Energy Source, 2021
Figure 41: U.K. Market Shares of Electricy Generation, by Energy Source, 2021
Figure 42: French Market Shares of Electricy Generation, by Energy Source, 2021
Figure 43: Italian Market Shares of Electricy Generation, by Energy Source, 2021
Figure 44: Spanish Market Shares of Electricy Generation, by Energy Source, 2021
Figure 45: European Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Application, 2035
Figure 46: European Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Application, 2040
Figure 47: European Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Country, 2035
Figure 48: European Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Country, 2040
Figure 49: APAC Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Projects, by Public (Government and Institutions) and Private Organizations, 2022
Figure 50: Chinese Market Shares of Electricy Generation, by Energy Source, 2022 and 2050
Figure 51: Japanese Market Shares of Electricy Generation, by Energy Source, 2022 and 2050
Figure 52: Indian Market Shares of Electricy Generation, by Energy Source, 2022 and 2050
Figure 53: Thai Market Shares of Electricy Generation, by Energy Source, 2022 and 2050
Figure 54: APAC Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Application, 2035
Figure 55: APAC Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Application, 2040
Figure 56: APAC Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Country, 2035
Figure 57: APAC Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Country, 2040
Figure 58: RoW Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Projects, by Public (Government and Institutions) and Private Organizations, 2022
Figure 59: RoW Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Application, 2035
Figure 60: RoW Market Shares of Nuclear Fusion Technologies, by Application, 2040
Figure 61: Shares of Strategic Approaches Adopted, by Nuclear Fusion Companies, 2021-2023*
Figure 62: Shares of Nuclear Fusion Companies, by Technology, 2022
Figure 63: Shares of Nuclear Fusion Companies, by Fuel Type, 2022
Figure 64: Nuclear Fusion Companies Funding Range, 2021 and 2022
Figure 65: Shares of Capacity Factor for U.S., by Energy Source, 2021
Figure 66: Average External Costs of Selected Energy Sources
Figure 67: Average Capital Investment Required, by Energy Sources
Figure 68: Average LCOE, by Energy Sources
Figure 69: Time by Proof-of-Concept to Early Commercialization for Energy Technologies

Companies Mentioned

  • Avalanche Energy Designs LLC
  • Commonwealth Fusion Systems (Cfs)
  • Ctfusion
  • Ex-Fusion Inc.
  • Focused Energy
  • First Light Fusion Ltd.
  • General Fusion Inc.
  • Hb11 Energy Holdings Pty Ltd.
  • Helion Energyinc.
  • Marvel Fusion GmbH
  • Magneto-Inertial Fusion Technologies Inc. (Mifti)
  • Princeton Fusion Systems Inc.
  • Tae Technologies Inc.
  • Tokamak Energy Ltd.
  • Zap Energy Inc.

Table Information