On March 18, the Fusion Industry Association (FIA) submitted a response to Japan’s Cabinet Office on their recently released draft paper on the “Basic Approach to Ensuring Safety for Realization of Fusion Energy.” The paper acts as a draft framework for the regulation of fusion energy in Japan.
As developers move closer to commercial fusion it is increasingly necessary to consider the wide array of enablers required to bring fusion power to the grid. The UK government’s consultation on proposed National Policy Statement EN8, ‘Fusion Energy’ is an important step forward for fusion development in the country. Not only will the policy help ensure a smooth and transparent assessment of future project proposals, it also signals – to developers, investors and consumers – that the UK government is today adopting measures to see fusion energy facilities come online.
On Wednesday, July 3, the German Committee for Education, Research and Technology Assessment held a hearing aimed to chart a course toward ensuring an informed legal environment that will accelerate fusion power deployment in Germany and across the European Union. The hearing was centered around two motions: “For a pragmatic, innovation-friendly legal framework for fusion power plants in Germany and Europe” – a legislative motion put forward by the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group, and “Specialist initiative for fusion research” – put forward by the AFD. The discussion is timely as Germany seeks to secure its leadership position in fusion by ensuring a regulatory system that keeps pace with technological advancements.
On 25-26 June 2024, the Fusion Industry Association participated in the Fusion for Energy Roundtable held in Barcelona to discuss international frameworks for fusion technology and developments, including key issues around regulation, safety, liability, intellectual property, export controls, as well as public-private partnerships.
On June 18, in a bipartisan vote, the Senate passed the ADVANCE Act, including legislation that will codify fusion energy regulations separate from nuclear fission. The Bill is now headed to the President’s desk for signature; once signed into law, the United States will be the second country to enact specific fusion regulations into law – following the United Kingdom’s enactment of fusion regulatory legislation in October 2023.
Discover the key takeaways from the Fusion Industry Association’s May 2024 letter to the NRC, addressing critical updates in fusion energy regulation and guidance.
On April 18, Senators Padilla, Cornyn, Booker, Young, and Murray introduced a bipartisan bill to accelerate fusion energy development. The legislation would codify the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s bipartisan decision last April to regulate fusion energy separate from nuclear fission. This Senate bill follows the passage of companion bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives….
On April 18, the FIA sent a letter to Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to support the renomination of US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Christopher Hanson.
The FIA endorsed passage on February 28, 2024 of H.R.6544, the bipartisan Atomic Energy Advancement Act with the Trahan-Obernolte Fusion Energy Act included.
The NRC has issued a “Notification of Proposed Rulemaking” on Fusion Energy. Read what the FIA has proposed on how to define fusion machines.