At the first ministerial meeting of the World Fusion Energy Group in Rome on Wednesday 6 November, the European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, acknowledged that “even with the rapid growth of renewable energies and the use of conventional nuclear energy”, the European Union will need a new generation of energy sources to meet all its needs.
“The EU has no choice. We must innovate. We must evolve. We must harness the revolutionary power of fusion energy”, said the Commissioner, asserting that Europe wants to be a world leader in the development of this energy, which could become the basis of tomorrow’s power reactors.
At the meeting, she argued that fusion is “a game-changing, clean, safe source of energy” as an alternative to fossil fuels and a complement to renewable energies.
She recalled the EU’s contribution in this area, mainly through the European ITER programme, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, which she said was “just the tip of the iceberg”.
In order to make progress in this area, the Commissioner stressed, in particular, the need for an appropriate regulatory framework specific to fusion, as well as a favourable environment encouraging science-industry partnerships and private investment.
This point was also emphasised by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, at a press conference. “All technically advanced countries are already involved in the path to fusion. So, the real novelty is the interest of the private stakeholder. Private investments are paramount in America and in Europe”, he explained.
In the margins of the event, Mrs Simson held talks with Mr Grossi, in particular on nuclear safety in Ukraine. She also discussed the latest developments at ITER with its Director General, Pietro Barabaschi, and spoke with the Italian Minister for the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)