FELEX Publishes Discussion Paper on Regulatory Frameworks for Fusion Power Plants

The International Group of Legal Experts on Fusion Energy (FELEX) published a discussion paper on Regulatory Frameworks for Fusion Technologies. This paper marks a step in the pursuit of clear, risk-appropriate, and technology-neutral regulatory frameworks for the safe and effective deployment of fusion power plants.

Established by Fusion for Energy with support from the International Nuclear Law Association, FELEX is an international legal expert group dedicated to the analysis of fusion legal and regulatory issues. FELEX is composed of 16 members acting in their personal capacities, a technical adviser from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and 15 observer organizations, including FIA, IAEA, European Commission, UK Atomic Energy Authority, EUROfusion, and others.

The FELEX regulatory frameworks for fusion technologies discussion paper provides insight and recommendations on what ideal regulatory frameworks for fusion should look like. The paper analyses the key principles that should be taken into account by jurisdictions working to establish regulatory frameworks for fusion power plants – machines designed to deliver electricity from fusion to the grid. The paper reviews regulatory processes in jurisdictions including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and Canada, that have made binding decisions on fusion regulatory frameworks or have published white papers on their ideal approaches for such frameworks. The paper highlights the need for harmonized, risk-appropriate, and technology-neutral regulations and presents the following key takeaways:

• Distinguishing fusion from fission: The paper finds that regulations should be specific to fusion, distinct from fission reactors. Further, the paper states that experience in regulating fission reactors is not a prerequisite for overseeing fusion power plants. Fusion’s fundamentally different risk profile – no long-lived radioactive waste, chain reactions, or meltdown risk – means that regulatory frameworks must be developed independently, drawing on principles from radiation protection and particle accelerator regulation.
• Operational experience should inform future regulations: The paper recommends that operational experience from early fusion power plants should be channelled back into ongoing regulatory discussions, allowing frameworks to evolve as the technology matures.
• International alignment and public engagement: FELEX calls for international alignment on regulatory principles and emphasises the importance of transparency and public participation in regulatory processes.

FELEX will continue to publish further discussion papers in line with its work programme, addressing additional legal and regulatory challenges in fusion energy. The group remains ready to consult with third parties seeking expert advice on specific legal issues related to fusion.

For more information, including FELEX’s Terms of Reference and a full list of members and observers, please consult the FELEX Key Issues Report.

October 27, 2025