U.S. Department of Energy Approves Fusion Pilot Plant Preconceptual Design
EVERETT, Wash., May 19, 2026 — Zap Energy today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has approved the company's preconceptual Z-pinch fusion power plant design report milestone under the U.S. Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program. The report describes the full range of systems required to construct and operate a fusion power demonstration facility capable of generating approximately 50 MW of net electrical output per module.
"The DOE's independent panel of fusion experts examined Zap's preconceptual power plant design and confirmed its engineering basis is sound," said Zabrina Johal, CEO of Zap Energy. "This milestone validates the sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch as a credible path to commercial fusion power.”
Unlike tokamaks, stellarators, or laser-driven approaches, Zap's sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch achieves plasma confinement through current-driven compression, eliminating the need for complex external magnetic confinement or laser systems. The result is a substantially more compact power plant footprint with less burdensome operational requirements.
"Advancing credible pilot-scale concepts is an important step in evaluating the technical pathways that could lead to practical fusion energy," said Jean Paul Allain, Ph.D., Director of DOE’s Office of Fusion.
The DOE milestone approval follows a detailed review of the design report by an independent panel of fusion experts from national laboratories and research institutions. The report details the plant’s liquid metal first wall and blanket system, power supply and power conversion systems, tritium fuel cycle, control and safety systems, remote handling and maintenance, and site infrastructure. The report also includes a nuclear safety design framework encompassing accident analysis, radiation protection, emergency preparedness, and decommissioning planning. Zap will submit for publication a technical paper based on the Milestone report later this year.
About Zap Energy
Zap Energy is building an integrated nuclear energy platform that combines fission, fusion, and hybrid technologies to deliver scalable, carbon-free power. The company's systems leverage advances in pulsed power, liquid metals, advanced materials, and compact modular design to enable upgradeable energy infrastructure for decades to come.
