State of Hesse wants to become hub for new reactor technologies
US-German startup Focused Energy has signed an agreement with energy company RWE and the German state of Hesse to build a 1GW fusion energy pilot plant at the former Biblis nuclear plant site by 2035, Reuters reported.
The report follows a recent announcement that Hesse has formed a nuclear fusion industry consortium as part of efforts to position the region as a hub for development and deployment of new reactor technologies.
Consortium members include Focused Energy, a spinoff from Technische Universität Darmstadt which is developing laser fusion technology.
Biblis, one of Germany’s oldest nuclear stations, was shut down following Berlin’s decision to phase out nuclear power. It had two pressurised water reactor units that began commercial operation in 1975 and 1977. The facility was owned and operated by RWE.
Focused Energy chief executive officer Scott Mercer described the non-binding agreement as a step towards establishing a global supply chain for fusion technology.
Germany has shut down its commercial nuclear power plants, but the conservative government, which won the February 2025 election, announced plans to create a regulatory framework for fusion technology in Germany and Europe in November 2024.
In March 2024, former federal research minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger – who has represented Hesse in parliament – launched a funding programme for the sector.
She said at the time: “The global race is on. I would like us in Germany to be among the first to build a fusion power plant. We must not miss this huge opportunity, especially with a view to growth and prosperity.”
