Alphabet(GOOGL) CNBC·2025-03-16 13:00Core Insights - The race between China and the U.S. to achieve grid-scale nuclear fusion energy is intensifying, with China investing significantly more and accelerating project development [1][7][8] - Nuclear fusion is considered the "holy grail" of clean energy, offering four times more energy per kilogram of fuel than traditional nuclear fission and four million times more than coal, with a projected market value of at least 8 billion, a significant increase from 1.5 billion annually in fusion research, while U.S. federal funding has averaged about $800 million annually [11][12] Technological Developments - The U.S. achieved a historic first fusion ignition in 2022 at the Lawrence Livermore National Ignition Facility, producing net positive energy [5] - China is rapidly constructing new fusion projects, including a massive facility that is expected to be twice the size of the U.S. National Ignition Facility [13][14] Research and Development - China has surpassed the U.S. in the number of fusion patents and has ten times the number of doctorates in fusion science and engineering [19] - U.S. fusion projects have largely focused on upgrading existing machines, while China is attracting talent with new projects [18][20] Supply Chain and Material Development - China is investing ten times more than the U.S. in advanced material development necessary for fusion projects, aiming to dominate the supply chain for critical materials [21] - The efficient supply chain in China has enabled rapid advancements, with companies like Energy Singularity achieving significant milestones in a short time frame [21] Future Outlook - Helion aims to deliver fusion power to the grid by 2028, while Commonwealth Fusion Systems plans to bring its first fusion power plant online in the early 2030s [22] - The ultimate goal is to establish a mature fusion industry capable of producing energy for global use, including powering AI centers [22]