Funding provided by US Congress for the development of a new generation of nuclear fusion reactors is insufficient to meet the need, but there is still time to rectify this “missed opportunity” and bring the budget up to a level that will support commercialisation, the industry has said.

The US Fusion Industry Association (FIA) said Congress will consider bills related to fusion funding as part of the full annual spending package this autumn.

The FIA warned that if Congress does not supply resources at a scale that is commensurate to the challenge, while countries like Germany, Japan, or the UK step forward, the American lead on innovative fusion could evaporate.