Computational optimization is the primary enabling technology for modern, high-performance stellarator designs.
Recent milestones, including the 2022 net energy gain and the 2025 long-duration stellarator performance, signal that the fusion field is entering a new era of accelerated progress.
The stellarator design is a highly promising path toward achieving sustained fusion reactions, as demonstrated by recent breakthroughs.
Fusion energy is an ideal future power source because it offers the potential for abundant, safe, and clean energy.
It is realistic to expect fusion power to be deployed on the electric grid within our lifetimes.
1968
Cites this year as the first major breakthrough in plasma confinement for fusion research.
1991
References this year as the first time a controlled release of fusion energy was demonstrated.
2022
Highlights the achievement of net energy gain in a fusion experiment in California as a major milestone.
2025
Points to a new milestone in long-duration performance achieved by the computationally-optimized Wendelstein 7-X stellarator.
Recent Years
Notes a significant increase in private investment in fusion energy research, supplementing public funding.
2026
Delivers the 'Shaping the Future of Energy with Fusion Science' lecture, synthesizing recent progress and outlining the path forward.
▶Computational Optimization as the Engine of Fusion ProgressApr 2026
Imbert-Gerard repeatedly emphasizes that advances in computational science are directly enabling breakthroughs in fusion energy. She explains that the complex, twisted shapes of stellarators are only possible through computational optimization, and highlights a new code that calculates magnetic fields 100 times faster, allowing for more accurate physics models in the design phase.
The pace of innovation in fusion energy is now inextricably linked to advances in computational power and algorithms, suggesting that investments in high-performance computing and related software development are critical for accelerating the path to commercial fusion.
▶The Physics of Plasma ConfinementApr 2026
A core theme is the fundamental challenge of controlling plasma, the fourth state of matter, at extremely high temperatures. Imbert-Gerard explains how stellarators use precisely shaped, twisted magnetic fields in a toroidal configuration to confine plasma particles and prevent them from escaping, a necessary condition for sustained fusion reactions.
For analysts, understanding the nuances of magnetic confinement topologies is crucial for evaluating the technical viability and potential efficiency of competing fusion reactor designs, such as stellarators.
▶An Era of Accelerated MilestonesApr 2026
Imbert-Gerard frames the current period as one of rapid, tangible progress in fusion research. She specifically cites the 2022 achievement of net energy gain and the 2025 milestone in long-duration performance as evidence that the field is moving from theoretical science to practical engineering success.
The shift from theoretical breakthroughs to demonstrable engineering milestones is de-risking the technology in the eyes of investors, likely fueling the increased private investment she notes and creating a positive feedback loop of funding and progress.
▶The Ultimate Promise of Fusion EnergyApr 2026
Throughout her lecture, Imbert-Gerard justifies the immense effort and investment in fusion by framing it as a uniquely promising future energy source. She consistently refers to its potential to be abundant, safe, and clean, positioning it as a long-term solution to global energy and environmental challenges.
This consistent framing of fusion's benefits is key to maintaining public and private support for the long and expensive R&D cycle, positioning it as a strategic investment in future energy security and climate stability.