# Igniting the Future: Fusion Power and the Road to Clean Energy with Scott Mercer

- Show: [Hardware to Save a Planet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet)
- Published: 2025-04-10
- Length: 51m
- Episode: 76
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-04-10-igniting-the-future-fusion-power-and-the-road-to-clean-energy-with-scott-mercer
- Listen: https://podcasts.fame.so/e/r8kmk4m8-fusion-power-and-the-road-to-clean-energy-scott-mercer

## Summary

Scott Mercer, Founder and CEO of Focused Energy, explains how his company is commercializing laser-driven nuclear fusion by leveraging the scientific proof of ignition achieved at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's National Ignition Facility (NIF). Mercer details the engineering challenges of transitioning from single-shot research to high-repetition-rate power plants, focusing on the need for 1000s of efficient solid-state lasers and on-site fuel target manufacturing. He outlines Focused Energy's strategy to secure early government and utility partnerships for gigawatt-scale base load power, aiming for commercial deployment in the late 2030s.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-04-10-igniting-the-future-fusion-power-and-the-road-to-clean-energy-with-scott-mercer#t=0) Introduction: Scott Mercer and Focused Energy
- [2:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-04-10-igniting-the-future-fusion-power-and-the-road-to-clean-energy-with-scott-mercer#t=124) From Volta to Fusion: The Path to Commercialization
- [6:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-04-10-igniting-the-future-fusion-power-and-the-road-to-clean-energy-with-scott-mercer#t=389) The Science of Laser-Driven Fusion and Ignition
- [15:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-04-10-igniting-the-future-fusion-power-and-the-road-to-clean-energy-with-scott-mercer#t=920) Engineering Challenges: Lasers, Targets, and Repetition
- [23:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-04-10-igniting-the-future-fusion-power-and-the-road-to-clean-energy-with-scott-mercer#t=1419) Focused Energy's Roadmap and Supply Chain Strategy
- [36:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-04-10-igniting-the-future-fusion-power-and-the-road-to-clean-energy-with-scott-mercer#t=2202) Business Model, Funding, and Geopolitical Context
- [45:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-04-10-igniting-the-future-fusion-power-and-the-road-to-clean-energy-with-scott-mercer#t=2701) Future Outlook and Career Advice

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Focused Energy (company)
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (company)
- National Ignition Facility (product)
- Volta (company)
- Shell (company)
- ITER (company)
- DOE (company)
- NNSA (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [A blueprint for scalable fusion power](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-05-21-a-blueprint-for-scalable-fusion-power) (Catalyst)
- [Is nuclear fusion getting close?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2021-12-23-is-nuclear-fusion-getting-close) (Catalyst)
- [The Fuss About Fusion](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-12-10-the-fuss-about-fusion) (EE Times Current)
- [The New Wave in Energy Generation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-10-22-the-new-wave-in-energy-generation) (EE Times Current)
- [The Future of Energy - Part 3: Fusion Energy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2022-08-30-the-future-of-energy-part-3-fusion-energy) (Additive Snack)

## Citing this page

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