Fusion energy

Fusion energy applies the same process that powers the Sun. Scientists around the world have been working for over six decades with the aim to utilise commercially this source of clean and reliable energy. Important projects supported by the EU (e.g. ITER, JT-60SA, IFMIF-DONES) are making steady progress toward the goal to commission commercial fusion power plants.

Fusion science identified the reaction between two hydrogen (H) isotopes deuterium (D) and tritium (T) to be the most efficient. The deuterium-tritium fusion reaction produces the highest energy gain at the "lowest" temperatures. It requires nonetheless temperatures of 150,000,000 degrees Celsius – ten times higher than the hydrogen reaction occurring in the Sun.

Fusion does not imply chain reactions and depends on external heating to be sustained: it is therefore considered safer than fission. It produces no carbon dioxide during operation and does not generate highly activated long-lived radioactive waste to the difference of traditional nuclear power plants.

However, stable, time-sustained, fusion reactions are technically very difficult to achieve. To create fusion, fuel must be heated to temperatures hotter than the centre of the Sun, creating a state of matter called plasma. This plasma can be controlled using strong magnetic fields inside machines known as tokamaks or stellarators. Developing materials that can withstand such extreme conditions is one of the biggest engineering challenges in fusion research and the objective of the IFMIF-DONES project (Spain).

Applications

Fusion energy could have many future applications such as electricity production for homes, transport and industry. Fusion could also provide industrial heat, support hydrogen production and contribute to radioisotope generation.

EU Fusion Projects

The largest and ambitious fusion project (tokamak design) in the world today is ITER (“The Way” in Latin). Since 2007, when the ITER agreement was signed, ITER is an international collaboration involving the European Union, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the United States. The project is being built in southern France (Cadarache) and aims to demonstrate that fusion can produce more energy than is required to start the reaction. The construction is to be completed in 2033, with Start of Research Operation phase in 2034, followed by a deuterium-tritium operation 1 phase in 2036. ITER itself will not generate electricity for the grid, but it is intended to prepare the way for future demonstration and commercial fusion power plants.

Europe plays a central role in global fusion research. The European Union contributes 45% to the ITER project’s funding and construction responsibilities and the host country (France) – 20 %. The domestic agency responsible for managing the European contributions is Fusion for Energy (F4E, based in Barcelona, Spain). Established in 2007, F4E works with ITER, European industries, universities and research centres to develop components and technologies for the design, construction and operation ITER and its related future fusion facilities.

Another important European organisation is EUROfusion, which coordinates fusion research activities across European laboratories and universities. EUROfusion supports scientific experiments, training programmes and technology development under the European roadmap toward fusion electricity. Through this collaboration, about thousands of researchers from many countries share knowledge and infrastructure, helping Europe maintain a leading position in fusion science.

Strategies

The Draghi report on EU competitiveness has recommended to ”develop an overarching EU innovation strategy for nuclear fusion energy and support the creation of a public-private partnership to promote its rapid, economically viable commercialisation”. On that basis and after extensive consultation with stakeholders, the Commission is preparing the first EU Fusion Strategy for adoption in 2026. Several EU countries have also developed (Germany) or in a process of developing (France) national fusion strategies.

Fusion energy is becoming increasingly important within European fusion energy policy and the industry and other stakeholders have called for clarity and stability of regulatory framework for fusion facilities in Europe. While fusion research facilities are currently regulated under existing Euratom nuclear safety and radiation protection legal framework, in 2025 the European Commission has asked ENSREG for recommendations on the need for establishment of fusion specific EU regulatory framework.

ENSREG Task Force on Fusion Energy

Recent advances in scientific and technological research have spurred increased activity and interest in fusion energy. As regulators must be prepared to fulfil their mandate to protect life, health and the environment, even in the face of emerging technologies, ENSREG established a new Task Force on Fusion Energy in March 2026. This Task Force will support regulators in addressing the challenges posed by fusion energy development.

The Task Force brings together regulatory authorities from EU member states to assess the need for a fusion-specific EU legal framework and develop recommendations to the European Commission. By doing so, it will provide stakeholders with clarity and predictability while fostering a stable regulatory environment for emerging technologies, including fusion energy.

References

ENSREG has a task force dedicated to Fusion Energy. Find more information on the task force here.