The European Union is increasingly turning to fusion energy as a cheap, virtually infinite and clean source of energy for the continent, which could help the federation become self-sufficient. Now, within the European Commission, there is a growing lobby to simplify the regulatory environment and improve the financing of research and investment.
Elena Righi Steele, the European Commission’s head of research and development, says the EU needs to cut red tape that hinders fusion energy and that more public support and private investment is needed to bring safer and more efficient than nuclear power into operation. Fusion energy can be a clean and virtually limitless source of energy, and countries such as Italy, Spain and Germany are supporting its development.
According to Cyrille Mai Thanh of the Fusion Industry Association, although progress has been made, challenges remain and there is a need for simplification of regulation, increased funding and cooperation between the public and private sectors. According to him, projects such as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) are being delayed due to budget overruns and regulatory hurdles, Euractiv reports.
Efforts to establish a regulatory framework for fusion energy, modelled on the US and UK, have gained momentum worldwide. The EU is exploring options such as public-private partnerships to accelerate development, and the fusion industry has become increasingly active in recent months.
With this growing momentum, the next few years will be crucial in shaping Europe’s nuclear fusion future as Brussels seeks to fully exploit the potential of this transformative technology.
