GreenergyDaily

Jun. 15, 2026

CATL, the world's largest power battery maker, has joined a growing group of Chinese new-energy companies betting on nuclear fusion, further expanding its presence in next-generation clean energy.

The company led a seed funding round worth several hundred million yuan in Chinese startup Beta Fusion, according to a report by China Star Market Daily. The investment marks CATL's first known move into the nuclear fusion sector.

Founded in late 2025, Beta Fusion is focused on the commercialization of controlled nuclear fusion technology and aims to achieve 50-100 megawatts of grid-connected power generation within six to eight years. The company is pursuing the field reversed configuration (FRC) route, the same approach used by US startup Helion Energy.

CATL is not alone among Chinese new-energy companies in exploring nuclear fusion.

EV maker Nio and its affiliated investment arm Nio Capital invested a combined 1.5 billion yuan in fusion startup Neo Fusion in 2023 for a roughly 30% stake, while Chery announced plans in March to pursue its own controlled nuclear fusion program as part of a long-term research strategy.

The move comes as nuclear fusion gains momentum in China. The technology was included in the country's 15th Five-Year Plan as a key direction for next-generation clean energy development, attracting growing interest from both industrial players and investors.