Nuclear fusion: State of play

Written by Clément Evroux.

In 2026, the European Commission is expected to publish a strategy on nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion, i.e. the combination of two atoms into a single heavier one, has been known since the first half of the 20th century. Despite significant progress, the controlled and sustained fusion reaction required for practical energy production has not yet been fully mastered. This technology is deemed to offer significant opportunities for generating affordable, decarbonised energy. To expedite the pathway towards the proof of concept, a significant international cooperation project, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), was launched in 2007 by 34 countries, including the EU Member States. The progress in technological development made since then might pave the way for the technology to be ready for industrial use in the second half of the century. Countries such as China and the United States are investing in technological development, and have started designing framework conditions, including a conducive regulatory environment.
With the current discussion on the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2028-2034, the EU is also expected to support further investment in fusion technologies, mostly through the proposed EURATOM research and training and Horizon Europe programmes, which build on the current (2021‑2027 MFF) programmes. However, stakeholders are stressing the relevance of providing appropriate framework conditions in addition to commensurate investment. This includes providing a conducive regulatory framework, as well as the talent pool necessary to develop and deploy such technologies.

Read the complete briefing on ‘Nuclear fusion: State of play‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.