On October 26, 2023, the UK’s Energy Act 2023 gained Royal Assent and was enacted to strengthen the UK’s long-term energy security and support affordable clean energy. The UK will become the first country to legislate for fusion regulation, which will foster the growth of the domestic fusion industry in support of the UK’s goal for a prototype fusion power plant by 2040.
Fusion energy is strongly represented at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai
Every now and then, a scientific breakthrough changes the world. From the Copernican heliocentric model of the universe and electricity to penicillin and the discovery of the structure of DNA, these developments transform our globe — and another one has been reached.
On November 21, the European Parliament adopted its position on the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA), amending the initial proposal of the Commission to include “fusion energy technologies” among the net-zero technologies in their aims to boost decarbonization efforts in Europe. The Act sets a target for Europe to produce 40% of its annual deployment needs in net-zero technologies by 2030, to capture 25% of the global market value for these technologies, and to address challenges in scaling up these technologies’ manufacturing capacities.
A bipartisan letter signed by 72 Members of Congress, requesting increased funding into the commercialization of fusion energy, was sent to the House Appropriations Committee on October 31.
The Fusion Industry Association (FIA) is hiring for a paid, part-time intern this Spring, 2024 to work remotely with in-person opportunity in DC as needed.
Through the Agile Nations network, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Canada published initial suggestions for a multi-national fusion regulatory framework. The network, consisting of government representatives and technical experts, suggested recommendations on how to develop an appropriate regulatory framework for fusion energy facilities. The group recognized the importance and viability of fusion power as a global opportunity, and recommends that fusion regulations should be pro-innovation, risk-informed, and transparent.
On October 11, 2023, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) held the first of a series of three public meetings to share the staff’s progress and seek public input on the preliminary proposed rule language, preliminary draft guidance (NUREG-1556, Volume 22), and specific topics of the proposed rule that would form the regulatory framework under 10 CFR Part 30 for fusion systems.
On October 13, Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) announced the first round of federal funding to fusion firms, following Japan’s launch of a national strategy geared towards fusion acceleration earlier in the year.
The International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) is hosting the 29th Fusion Energy Conference (FEC) from October 16-21 in London. The annual conference provides a space for leading fusion developers, policymakers, and scientists to connect and discuss actions to advance fusion R&D and achieve commercial fusion power on a global scale.