CFS and Singapore's A*STAR to develop tech for commercial fusion plants; Thea Energy announces operation of full-scale planar shaping coils; NIF researchers project over 10x increase in fusion yields

Adrian Carrillo, Master's Student at the University of Washington focusing on computational plasma physics, gives today’s global fusion news update. Links to all of the stories mentioned are included below.

1. CFS announces an agreement with Singapore's A*STAR to develop technologies for commercial fusion devices

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/worlds-largest-nuclear-fusion-firm-partners-astar-to-develop-commercial-power-plant-tech

2. Thea Energy Announces Successful Operation of Full-Scale Planar Shaping Coils

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/13/3293984/0/en/Thea-Energy-Announces-Successful-Operation-of-Full-Scale-Planar-Shaping-Coils.html

3. NIF researchers project over 10x increase in fusion yields after planned laser energy upgrade

https://www.aip.org/scilights/a-look-back-at-over-a-decade-of-inertial-confinement-fusion-experiments

https://pubs.aip.org/aip/pop/article/33/5/050503/3391665/Key-metrics-of-progress-in-the-NIF-ignition

4. Xcimer Energy Builds Leadership Team for Industrial Fusion and National Security Applications

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260512727044/en/Xcimer-Energy-Builds-Leadership-Team-for-Industrial-Fusion-and-National-Security-Applications

Bonus stories:

https://www.axios.com/2026/05/22/fusion-energy-simpler-federal-review?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosgenerate&stream=top

https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/fia-submits-response-to-nrcs-proposed-rulemaking-and-draft-guidance-for-us-fusion-regulations/

https://www.avalanchefusion.com/machines/lando

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/05/20/nuclear-fusion-without-massive-land-use-huge-fuel-costs.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSmSVYm0eT4

https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/germany-joins-eu-s-nuclear-fusion-push-europe-looks-energy-security