The US Department of Energy (DOE) on Tuesday released the finalized Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap, a national strategy aimed at accelerating the development and commercialization of fusion energy.

According to the DOE, the roadmap integrates priorities across fusion science, technology development, infrastructure, workforce training and commercialization into a unified framework designed to support the deployment of fusion pilot plants and commercial fusion power in the mid-2030s.

Fusion energy is the process of generating power by combining light atomic nuclei, such as hydrogen isotopes, into heavier ones like helium. It is the same process that powers the sun and stars. Fusion has long been viewed as a potential source of abundant, reliable and carbon-free energy.

"Fusion is among the most environmentally friendly sources of energy," said the International Atomic Energy Agency, noting that its two sources of fuel, hydrogen and lithium, are widely available across the Earth.

The roadmap outlines how the DOE, private industry, universities and national laboratories will work together to advance fusion research and speed the path toward commercial fusion energy in the United States.

The roadmap is built around three key priorities: developing critical infrastructure to address fusion materials and technology challenges; advancing innovation through scientific research, high-performance computing and artificial intelligence; and expanding the US fusion ecosystem through public-private partnerships, supply-chain development, workforce growth and commercialization efforts.

The DOE said more than 800 scientists and engineers from the public and private sectors contributed to the roadmap, which is intended to strengthen US leadership in the global race to commercialize fusion energy.