The German Federal Cabinet has approved the Federal Government’s Action Plan ‘Germany on the Path to a Fusion Power Plant’.
The Fusion Action Plan implements a flagship measure of the High-Tech Agenda Germany (HTAD) in the key technology of fusion, aiming to make Germany a leading centre of innovation.
The Fusion Action Plan represents the Federal Government’s commitment to fusion research with the clear goal of building a fusion power plant in Germany.
By 2029, over €2bn will be invested in fusion research, including funding for research and the development of new research infrastructures and technology demonstrators.
Federal Minister for Research, Technology and Space Dorothee Bär explained: “Recent years have clearly shown us all that our energy supply is facing challenges. It is the foundation for competitiveness, value creation, and sovereignty.
“Our energy of tomorrow should be safe, environmentally compatible, climate-friendly, and affordable for everyone. In the future, the key technology of fusion could help fulfil this demand.
“With the Fusion Action Plan, we are paving the way for the world’s first fusion power plant in Germany.”
Why is fusion energy so important?
Fusion is the energy conversion process of our Sun. At extremely high temperatures of 15 million degrees Celsius and a pressure of 100 billion bar, several hydrogen atoms fuse in the centre of the Sun to form a single helium atom.
Fusion is not a short-term solution, but an investment in the energy supply of the future. It promises the possibility of supplying electricity in a clean, safe, and resource-efficient manner, capable of meeting baseload requirements, and could therefore become a crucial pillar of our society and our economy.
Moreover, energy-intensive processes such as hydrogen production could also benefit from fusion power plants in the future.
Actions and measures needed to commercialise a fusion power plant in Germany
Since fusion energy can only succeed if the regulatory framework is also right, the German Government intends to create explicit regulations for fusion in the Radiation Protection Act.
This is intended to pave the way for the future energy supply and create planning security for startups and industrial companies involved in fusion.
The Federal Government’s adopted action plan identifies eight fields of action and measures that should be addressed to realise a fusion power plant in Germany:
- Strengthening research funding
- Building a fusion ecosystem (from science and industry)
- Research infrastructures and technology demonstrators
- Training and further education of specialists
- Public involvement
- Regulation in the Radiation Protection Act
- Intellectual property protection and standardisation
- Strategic international cooperation
