The US needs targeted federal investment of billions of dollars and a strategy that speeds up commercialisation of nuclear fusion reactors if it is to match the ambition of China and other competitors, the Fusion Industry Association (FIA) said.

The appeal came as fusion energy industry leaders met with US Department of Energy (DOE) officials this week to urge them ​to allocate billions of dollars for projects seeking to generate electricity ‌by fusion.

In November the DOE created an Office of Fusion in ‌a reorganisation that focused on fossil fuel and nuclear energy while eliminating renewable energy offices.