UK becoming first country to develop fusion-specific planning rules
The aim is to develop a National Policy Statement to unblock fusion projects.
ITER 3D plasma equilibrium with ripple contours. Data for this plot was provided by ORNL’s VMEC 3D equilibrium code using profiles for an ITER Scenario 4 plasma
© Oak Ridge National Laboratory, CC BY 2.0Fusion-specific planning rules will see fusion introduced into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime, putting fusion energy projects on the same footing as other clean energy technologies such as solar, onshore wind and nuclear.
Currently, fusion projects must submit an application to the local authority with no set timelines for approval and no guidance on which sites are appropriate, a situation which the government sees as hindering the technology’s development in the UK.
The introduction of a National Policy Statement will, government claims, provide clarity and streamline the planning process giving industry certainty, breaking down regulatory barriers and getting projects built quicker.
The government plans to consult on a detailed National Policy Statement for Fusion Energy by March 2026.
