IAEA Increases Fusion Focus at Summit
On March 21, world leaders gathered in Brussels for the first International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Nuclear Energy Summit to highlight the critical role of nuclear energy, including fusion energy, in addressing the global challenges to reduce carbon emissions, enhance energy security, and boost economic development. Co-chaired by the Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Summit was the highest-level meeting to date exclusively focused on the topic of nuclear energy. More than 400 CEOs, entrepreneurs, scientists and political leaders gathered for the event.
It is worth noting that among the Heads of State and Government, the official statement made by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković was strongly focused on fusion energy and even called for a European Strategy for Fusion: “The EU must provide all the necessary support on the future development of nuclear fusion, in particular by adopting a European strategy for nuclear fusion as a first step towards the accelerated development of fusion. This will create synergies and ensure the EU becomes an important link to the global nuclear fusion industry.”
One of the panel discussions addressed the development of fusion energy in which Pietro Barabaschi, Director General of ITER, recalled that ITER has contributed tremendously in developing the know-how which belongs to the seven member countries. ITER will do its best to give back knowledge to private companies and, with the Fusion Industry Association, will organize a three-day workshop in Cadarache in May where private companies will be invited. He also acknowledged that “ITER is not enough” and it will require worldwide programs to bring fusion power to the grid.
Melanie Windridge, CEO of FIA affiliate member Fusion Energy Insights, highlighted that there are many private fusion startups that are working to develop fusion power plants which are looking at a diversity of different approaches. Many of them are based on the decades of research that has gone into fusion. For fusion power plants, the aspiration is to bring the size down “from a cathedral to a church” as she put it. She concluded on the importance of partnerships between companies and labs, but also partnerships between nations.
You can watch the full Summit here: