Fusion Funding Soars as ‘Serious Money’ Bets on Energy of Stars

Nuclear fusion is starting to attract serious investors, a sign that the long struggle to power the planet with the energy of the stars may be inching closer to reality.

Fusion companies in Europe and North America have attracted $2.6 billion in backing this year, a record that dwarfs the $302 million raised in all of last year, according to BloombergNEF. This year’s investments were bolstered by two large deals in the past month, with a $1.8 billion funding round announced Wednesday by Commonwealth Fusion Systems marking the largest financing for the nascent industry to date.

It comes after years ...