Fusion Industry Association Sends Letter on Fusion Regulations to European Commission Commissioner Simson
On June 9, the Fusion Industry Association (FIA) sent a letter on the importance of risk-informed fusion regulations to European Commission Commissioner Simson. The letter comes at a time when governments are increasingly looking into solidifying regulations for fusion energy, following recent regulatory decisions by the United States and United Kingdom. Early movers will have a competitive advantage in further shaping the industry, which spent over $500m on the supply chain in 2022. You can read the full letter here, or below.
“One of the key principles that the FIA and our members stand for is that the laws regulating fusion energy should be clear, fair, and encouraging of innovation while assuring the safety and security of the public. That means that, due to their fundamental differences, fusion energy regulations must be kept separate from those applicable to nuclear fission.”
FIA Letter to Commissioner Simson
The European Union holds a key position in advancing fusion energy — a portion of the fusion industry has significant operations in the EU, and the region has honed expertise in fusion research and supply chain leadership through ITER and its satellite projects. While regulations will be licensed at the Member State level, the European Commission has a crucial role to play in ensuring harmonization between countries. Its recent study critically notes “there should be a distinction on the regulation between fission and fusion energy, as they have certain fundamental differences that affect their environmental impact and safety risks”, and recommends “Regulatory approaches to fusion are important — regulation should be proportionate to fusion risks, not based on fission.” The FIA applauds the European Commission’s leadership in European energy security and climate action, and stands ready to work with the European Commission to further elaborate on our industry perspective and provide any useful data to the discussion.
July 10th, 2023
