Nuclear fusion technology, which scientists often joke is “always 50 years away”, generates electricity from energy released as lighter nuclei fuse to form heavier nuclei. Vast temperatures and pressures are required to start nuclear fusion and maintain it for long enough to produce useful amounts of energy, meaning huge engineering challenges such as confinement must be overcome first.
Nuclear fusion research is part of the UK government’s long-term decarbonisation plan, along with the expansion of new nuclear fission technologies, such as advanced modular reactors. Now, the government has announced plans to be the first to legislate for the safe and effective rollout of fusion energy, outlined in a Fusion Green Paper.
Due to the expected low hazard of fusion power, it proposes the continuation of a “non-nuclear” regulatory approach as laid out in regulatory consultation proposals published today. This will allow for the safe and efficient rollout of...