Europe’s first full design of commercial fusion power plant unveiled

Gauss Fusion, a Berlin-based company, has unveiled Europe’s first full conceptual design for a commercial fusion power plant, named GIGA. The Conceptual Design Report (CDR), spanning over a thousand pages, addresses all critical systems and industrial challenges necessary to transition fusion from scientific research to practical energy production. It covers the plant’s architecture, safety, system engineering, lifecycle operations, and radioactive waste management. The report represents three years of collaborative work by hundreds of European specialists, demonstrating that the technologies, materials, and supply chains required for fusion power are within reach. The CDR also establishes a cost and schedule framework for building the first commercial fusion reactor, estimating an investment of €15-18 billion to achieve operational status by the mid-2040s. Gauss Fusion emphasizes a rigorous project management approach, including risk management and performance metrics, to improve outcomes. Key industrial challenges addressed include developing a closed tritium fuel cycle and mastering advanced superconducting magnets and materials capable of withstanding extreme