Germany will invest more than €1bn ($1.07bn) in fusion research over the next five years as it sets out to “create a fusion ecosystem” so that a power plant can become “a reality in Germany as quickly as possible”.

“Fusion is a huge opportunity to solve all our energy problems,” said research minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger, a member of the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP).

She said it was no longer a question of whether fusion will materialise, but rather if Germany will be part of it.

Stark-Watzinger announced a new support programme worth €370m – which together with funds already earmarked makes €1bn – to strengthen activities already underway at the Institute for Plasma Physics, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the Research Centre Jülich until 2028.