The construction of new-generation “artificial sun” (controlled nuclear fusion) facilities is accelerating across China, with supporting scientific research, engineering and industrial systems steadily advancing. The Burning Plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak (BEST) project in Hefei, Anhui, is in full-scale construction. It is designed to achieve a fusion power of 20 to 200 megawatts and plans to demonstrate fusion power generation around 2030.
China’s nuclear fusion industry is advancing multiple fusion pathways in parallel, with a growing number of start-ups entering the sector. Compact fusion devices have attracted significant capital interest due to their cost and commercialization advantages. In the first half of 2026, dozens of domestic nuclear fusion enterprises completed financing, with the total amount exceeding 7 billion yuan, and individual financing records in the sector continue to be broken.
