Fusion and Climate-neutral Energy Generation in Hamburg

Hamburg is one of the key centers for research into fusion and climate-neutral energy generation. In the metropolitan region, universities and research institutions are working to develop new energy sources, materials, and measurement methods for a safe and climate-neutral energy supply. Together with Schleswig-Holstein, Bavaria, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Saxony, Hamburg has also founded the Fusion Alliance—with the goal of collaborating on the research, development, construction, and operation of commercially used fusion reactors.

The scientific anchor institutions include DESY, the European XFEL, the University of Hamburg, and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon. At DESY, research infrastructures such as PETRA III—and, in the future, PETRA IV—as well as the FLASH and LUX laser systems are available to visualize extremely fast processes and material behavior under demanding conditions. The European XFEL complements this with high-energy and fusion research, such as the investigation of early phases of fusion processes. The University of Hamburg contributes expertise in hydrogen, materials, and energy conversion, while Hereon strengthens the application-oriented perspective with its work on materials and energy processes.

In addition, there are projects such as IFuEL for the development of a laser for inertial fusion, Digi-HyPro for a digitized hydrogen value chain, and the Northern German Living Lab (NRL) for testing integrated energy systems. The Energieforschungsverbund Hamburg (Hamburg Energy Research Network) brings together energy research in the metropolitan region. This is creating a research environment in Hamburg where fusion, hydrogen, and climate-neutral energy generation are closely linked to materials research, laser technology, and system integration.

Key Projects of the PIER PLUS Partners

DESY

Fusion Research and Expansion of Fusion-Related Research Infrastructure

DESY develops high-energy and high-power lasers for laser fusion and laser-plasma acceleration. DESY participated in the FIRE roadmapping process, which was funded as a pilot project by the HTAD (German link). The IFuEL project, launched in 2026 and funded by the BMFTR’s FUSION 2040 program, is developing a demonstrator for a 200-joule Yb:YLF laser system intended to serve as a building block for future fusion power plants. The goal is to demonstrate the first step toward a laser system scalable to pulse energies in the millions of joules, as required for laser fusion. The project aims to develop and test a highly efficient and scalable laser technology for fusion research. At the same time, DESY is conducting fusion-relevant materials research on materials for fusion reactors and is using this prototype laser to test materials for fusion reactors, including radiation-resistant materials and plasma-facing materials (PFM) for reactor walls. The laser technology made possible by this funding will also be used for fusion-relevant materials research at the DESY light source PETRA III and its future successor, PETRA IV. The European XFEL is the world’s only facility capable of performing real-time diagnostics of fusion processes. DESY supports its operation and expansion plans for laser fusion diagnostics as an essential milestone in the preparation for a fusion power plant in Germany. Additionally, DESY spin-offs are involved in technology development alongside fusion companies.

For more information on DESY’s High-Tech Agenda contributions, see the DESY brochure “Aus Forschung wird Zukunft” (in German).