EC mulling public-private partnership approach for fusion development

The European Commission is considering a public-private partnership (PPP) approach to advance the pathway towards the commercialisation of fusion energy.

Up to now, the EU’s process for the financing of fusion has been primarily led by public bodies investing enormous resources in big projects, with industry tending to take a more passive role, only becoming active once they have received contracts for procuring services or components.

However, the number of private companies investing in fusion projects is growing, largely as a result of recent technological breakthroughs, suggesting that there is a significant opportunity for the industry to rise as the driver of fusion development rather than merely as the supplier of components or services.

In a new independent report for the European Commission (EC) led by energy consultancy Trinomics and based on leading PPP schemes for industrial innovation in the EU and globally as well as broad stakeholder input, the case is made for such a scheme for fusion in EU to address the needs for continued innovation and development and to retain competitiveness and leadership against increasing international competition.

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The report identifies two key directions that have emerged for the primary objective of a PPP, noting that its choice by the EC in its fusion strategy is crucial.

These are the DEMO pilot, which initially at least would target partnerships between public research and engineering firms and accelerate conceptual design development, and key enabling technologies, which directs attention toward addressing remaining key technical challenges, such as the tritium fuel cycle, first wall materials, remote handling, etc.

Other objectives should include flexibility to adapt, e.g. to unforeseen events or potential delays to ITER etc, leveraging ITER know-how, a clear technology development roadmap, technology transfer opportunities and support for start-ups.

Based on an analysis of the fusion funding landscape, the needs of different stakeholders, the main options available and not least the urgency for action, a three-pronged approach for an EU PPP for fusion is recommended:

• Create a Co-programmed European Partnership for fusion innovation under the Euratom framework to begin as soon as practical, ideally during the 2025-2027 work programme, but at least from the next financial framework period in 2028.
• Evolve the focus of the ‘Fusion for Energy’ (F4E) funding to key enabling technologies for DEMO.
• Ensure a minimum of funding availability for fusion in EIT-KIC InnoEnergy for seed funding for start-ups in the EU, both those pursuing their own fusion approaches as well as SMEs in the supply chain.

Some specific recommendations for the EC include establishing the policy backing and EU representative organisation for the Co-programmed European Partnership, proposing a strategic research and innovation agenda and developing an EU innovation strategy for fusion.

Broadly the pathway for fusion in the EU is envisaged in the three main steps with ITER as an experimental device on to the DEMO pilot plant and thereafter a commercial fusion power plant.