The German government has set out a “high tech agenda” explaining how it intends to build a nuclear fusion reactor as part of efforts to become climate neutral by 2045.

The agenda says the government will present a long-term fusion action plan for the path to a fusion power plant in the country this year.

The action plan is to be followed by a ‘Fusion Energy Research and Innovation Roadmap’ (Fire) by the end of 2026, which will identify the technologies needed for the plant.

Germany’s chancellor Friedrich Merz is an enthusiastic supporter of fusion research, stressing during the campaign for February’s federal elections that Europe must not leave the field to China.