Italian energy major Eni said it aims to support the development of a commercial nuclear fusion power plant in Europe by the early 2040s, potentially accelerating the timeline from previous estimates.
The company, which holds a stake in U.S.-based Commonwealth Fusion Systems, has set an internal target for the early 2040s or sooner to bring a fusion facility online, according to Francesca Ferrazza, Eni’s head of magnetic fusion initiatives. Speaking to the Financial Times, Ferrazza described fusion energy as the company’s "next refinery," signaling a strategic pivot toward fusion as a core industrial focus.
Eni’s push into fusion follows a shift in the sector’s technological and economic outlook over the past five to six years, with recent advancements prompting more aggressive timelines. The company established a joint venture with the UK Atomic Energy Authority in early 2026 to provide specialized consulting and operational services for fusion fuel cycles, including the recovery, purification, and reuse of tritium and deuterium derived from reactors.
The joint venture aligns with Eni’s broader strategy to capitalize on the fusion fuel cycle, a critical component of scaling commercial fusion power. Commonwealth Fusion Systems, in which Eni is an investor, is expected to lead the construction of the facility.
The fusion sector remains highly competitive, with multiple global players racing to achieve viable commercial deployment. Eni’s timeline reflects growing confidence in the technology’s near-term feasibility, though significant engineering and regulatory hurdles remain before large-scale deployment can occur.
