Italian energy company Eni has set a target to support the development of a commercial fusion power plant in Europe by the early 2040s or sooner. The project would be led by U.S.-based Commonwealth Fusion Systems, in which Eni holds an equity stake.
The initiative aligns with Eni’s broader push into fusion energy, with Francesca Ferrazza, leader of the company’s magnetic fusion initiatives, describing nuclear fusion as the firm’s potential "next refinery." The timeline reflects rapid advancements in fusion technology over the past five to six years, according to industry observers.
Eni formalized a joint venture with the UK Atomic Energy Authority earlier in 2026 to provide specialist consultancy and operational services focused on the fusion fuel cycle. The collaboration targets key aspects such as recovering, purifying, and reusing tritium and deuterium from reactors, positioning Eni to play a central role in the supply chain.
The joint venture underscores Eni’s strategic investment in fusion, an emerging energy technology still in the pre-commercial phase. While fusion remains decades away from widespread deployment, the company’s involvement signals growing corporate confidence in its long-term viability as a scalable energy source.
