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

<p>Adrian Carrillo, Master&#39;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.</p><p><br></p><p>1. CFS announces an agreement with Singapore&#39;s A*STAR to develop technologies for commercial fusion devices</p><p><a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/worlds-largest-nuclear-fusion-firm-partners-astar-to-develop-commercial-power-plant-tech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/worlds-largest-nuclear-fusion-firm-partners-astar-to-develop-commercial-power-plant-tech</a></p><p><br></p><p>2. Thea Energy Announces Successful Operation of Full-Scale Planar Shaping Coils</p><p><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/13/3293984/0/en/Thea-Energy-Announces-Successful-Operation-of-Full-Scale-Planar-Shaping-Coils.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/13/3293984/0/en/Thea-Energy-Announces-Successful-Operation-of-Full-Scale-Planar-Shaping-Coils.html</a></p><p><br></p><p>3. NIF researchers project over 10x increase in fusion yields after planned laser energy upgrade</p><p><a href="https://www.aip.org/scilights/a-look-back-at-over-a-decade-of-inertial-confinement-fusion-experiments " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.aip.org/scilights/a-look-back-at-over-a-decade-of-inertial-confinement-fusion-experiments </a></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://pubs.aip.org/aip/pop/article/33/5/050503/3391665/Key-metrics-of-progress-in-the-NIF-ignition " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://pubs.aip.org/aip/pop/article/33/5/050503/3391665/Key-metrics-of-progress-in-the-NIF-ignition </a></p><p><br></p><p>4. Xcimer Energy Builds Leadership Team for Industrial Fusion and National Security Applications</p><p><a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260512727044/en/Xcimer-Energy-Builds-Leadership-Team-for-Industrial-Fusion-and-National-Security-Applications" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260512727044/en/Xcimer-Energy-Builds-Leadership-Team-for-Industrial-Fusion-and-National-Security-Applications</a></p><p><br></p><p>Bonus stories:</p><p><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/22/fusion-energy-simpler-federal-review?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosgenerate&stream=top" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.axios.com/2026/05/22/fusion-energy-simpler-federal-review?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosgenerate&amp;stream=top</a></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/fia-submits-response-to-nrcs-proposed-rulemaking-and-draft-guidance-for-us-fusion-regulations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/fia-submits-response-to-nrcs-proposed-rulemaking-and-draft-guidance-for-us-fusion-regulations/</a></p><p><br></p><p><a href="⁠https://www.avalanchefusion.com/machines/lando⁠" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.avalanchefusion.com/machines/lando</a></p><p><br></p><p><a href="⁠https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/05/20/nuclear-fusion-without-massive-land-use-huge-fuel-costs.html⁠" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/05/20/nuclear-fusion-without-massive-land-use-huge-fuel-costs.html</a></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSmSVYm0eT4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSmSVYm0eT4</a></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/germany-joins-eu-s-nuclear-fusion-push-europe-looks-energy-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/germany-joins-eu-s-nuclear-fusion-push-europe-looks-energy-security</a></p>