BERLIN – Gauss Fusion, a European green tech company, has officially unveiled its Conceptual Design Report (CDR) for GIGA, which it asserts is Europe’s first comprehensive blueprint for a commercial fusion power plant. The announcement, made on October 9, 2025, in Berlin, comes just days after the German government introduced its €2 billion Fusion Action Plan, aiming to position Germany at the forefront of the global race to develop fusion energy.
The detailed, over one-thousand-page report outlines a complete technical design and industrialization roadmap for developing a commercial fusion power plant by the mid-2040s, with an estimated cost of €15-18 billion. Gauss Fusion’s initiative aims to transition fusion from scientific research to a commercial energy reality, offering a pathway to clean, safe, and virtually limitless energy for Europe.
Gauss Fusion’s GIGA Project: A Deep Dive into the Conceptual Design
The Conceptual Design Report for GIGA is a seminal document addressing all critical systems required for the construction and operation of a commercial fusion power plant. This includes the overall architecture, design basis, safety framework, qualification strategy, system engineering, lifecycle operations, and considerations for radioactive waste. Developed over three years with support from industrial partners across Europe, the CDR embodies a “Eurofighter for Fusion” vision, advocating for a pan-European program to integrate industrial expertise, national investments, and supply-chain capabilities to achieve energy sovereignty for the continent.
Addressing Key Technical and Economic Hurdles
The report not only presents the technical specifications but also establishes a cost and schedule framework for the GIGA project. While acknowledging the inherent uncertainties of pioneering technologies, it sets ambitious targets for bringing the first-of-a-kind commercial fusion reactor online by the mid-2040s. Gauss Fusion emphasized a commitment to world-class project performance, incorporating established best practices in project management, proactive risk and opportunity management, and the use of key performance indicators.
The Broader European Fusion Landscape
Gauss Fusion’s announcement significantly advances Europe’s position in the global pursuit of fusion energy. The German government’s recently announced €2 billion Fusion Action Plan, which underpins Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s ambition for Germany to build the world’s first fusion power plant, provides substantial support for such ventures. Gauss Fusion’s work, including its industrialization roadmap and technical design, will be shared with the German Federal Government, placing the company centrally in Europe’s efforts to deliver fusion power.
Complementary Efforts: EUROfusion and STEP
While Gauss Fusion presents its commercial design, other significant European initiatives continue to push the boundaries of fusion research:
- EUROfusion’s DEMO Project: The EUROfusion Consortium, which coordinates European research in fusion energy, is actively working on the DEMOnstration power plant (DEMO). DEMO is envisioned as ITER’s successor, aiming to transition fusion from a science-driven endeavor to an industry- and technology-driven program. Its primary goals include producing between 300 to 500 megawatts of net electricity and operating with a closed fuel-cycle by reprocessing spent tritium fuel. The EUROfusion roadmap emphasizes the need for robust designs with substantial performance margins to address uncertainties arising from low Technology Readiness Levels of fusion systems.
- UK’s STEP Program: The United Kingdom, a former EUROfusion member, is also making significant strides with its Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) project. STEP aims to design a prototype fusion energy plant, targeting operation by the early 2040s, with the goal of demonstrating net energy, fuel self-sufficiency, and a viable route to plant maintenance. The STEP project, based on a compact spherical tokamak design, seeks to minimize cost while maximizing energy output and is taking a holistic approach, even considering decommissioning as part of the initial design.
The Promise of Fusion Energy
Fusion energy, which powers the sun and stars, holds the promise of a safe, clean, and virtually limitless energy source on Earth. Unlike nuclear fission, fusion does not produce long-lived radioactive waste and carries no risk of meltdown. By fusing light atomic nuclei, typically isotopes of hydrogen, it releases vast amounts of energy. The development of commercial fusion power plants like GIGA is seen as a critical step in addressing global energy demands and combating climate change by providing a stable source of carbon-free electricity.
The unveiling of Gauss Fusion’s GIGA design signifies a pivotal moment in the journey toward commercial fusion power, reinforcing Europe’s commitment to pioneering sustainable energy solutions for the future.
