Keywords: Artificial Sun, Thousand-Second Breakthrough, Ultimate Energy, Commercialization
A Historic Leap: From Seconds to Thousands of Seconds
For decades, controlled nuclear fusion has been jokingly described as a technology that is “always 50 years away.” But in the spring of 2026, that joke is starting to lose its punch — thanks to China.
At the Lingang special area in Shanghai, Energy Singularity’s self-developed HH70, the world’s first fully high-temperature superconducting tokamak, successfully achieved 1,337 seconds of steady-state long-pulse plasma operation. This is not just a numerical increase; it is a qualitative leap. Previously, the global record for private fusion companies remained in the “hundreds of seconds” range. China has now raised that bar by an order of magnitude, reaching nearly 22 minutes.
The key to this breakthrough lies in materials and technology. Unlike conventional copper magnets (which overheat and cannot run for long periods), the HH70 uses next-generation high-temperature superconducting (HTS) materials, with 96% of its components sourced domestically. This not only validates the engineering feasibility of the all-HTS approach but also demonstrates that China has achieved self-reliance in the supply chain for key fusion components.
Meanwhile, the national team is also advancing steadily. China’s Huanliu-3 (HL-3) — the country’s largest and most advanced tokamak — is scheduled to begin burning plasma experiments in 2027, with the goal of achieving 10 MW-level fusion power output by around 2030.
Two Engines, One Race: The State and Private Sectors
If the fusion industry is a marathon, China’s track is now witnessing a remarkable spectacle: elephants dancing alongside antelopes.
The state team lays the foundation. Led by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), the China Fusion Energy Company was established in Shanghai, raising 11.492 billion yuan (approx. $1.6 billion) in its first funding round. Their mission is to explore grid-scale power generation — a longer timeline, but each step is solid. Internationally, China has completed over 80% of its core component manufacturing tasks for the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) project, moving from “following” to “running alongside” and, in some areas, “leading.”
The commercial teams bring speed and agility. Nova Fusion secured 500 million yuan (approx. $70 million) in angel funding less than four months after its founding. Star Fusion followed with 1 billion yuan (approx. $140 million) in its Series A round. These startups are advancing at near-Internet speed, building experimental bases in record time. In Shanghai’s Jiading district, Star Fusion’s project achieved the remarkable feat of “power-on construction within 24 hours of land acquisition.”
This dual-engine model — scientific research coupled with commercial deployment — is reshaping China’s energy landscape.
Capital and Talent: A High-Stakes Bet on the Future
Underpinning this technological surge is a massive influx of real capital and talent.
China’s investment in fusion is staggering. The 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly designates nuclear fusion as a future industry for forward-looking deployment. The “Two Major Projects” (national major projects) have allocated over 170 billion yuan (approx. $24 billion) in ultra-long-term special treasury bonds to upgrade related facilities. This helps explain why Bill Gates recently remarked that China is investing roughly twice as much in this field as the rest of the world combined.
This capital inflow has directly triggered a fierce talent war. Plasma physics and high-temperature superconducting materials — once considered niche fields — are now hot commodities. CNNC, Energy Singularity, Star Fusion, and others are competing fiercely for talent, with a PhD degree often becoming the baseline requirement. To fill the gap, top universities such as Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Lanzhou University have recently established dedicated schools of nuclear fusion science and engineering.
Challenges and Outlook: A Long, Steep Climb
Despite the optimism, a sober perspective is essential.
First, there remains a significant gap between scientific feasibility and engineering reality. The current thousand-second operation was achieved under low-parameter conditions and has not yet reached “net energy gain” (Q > 1, where output exceeds input). A real fusion power plant will require near-perpetual steady-state operation — far more than just 22 minutes.
Second, industry standards are still absent. With a flood of new entrants, China lacks unified standards for the fusion sector. As National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) member Yan Jianwen has noted, while the world has yet to form a unified standard, China has a window of opportunity to establish the rules of the game and gain a voice.
In summary, 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for China’s nuclear fusion history. From the HH70’s thousand-second breakthrough to the roar of machinery in Shanghai’s “Fusion Town,” China is compressing “always 50 years away” into a visible countdown. This is not just a race for new energy technology — it is a demonstration of strategic resolve and national ambition in shaping the future industrial landscape.