Fusion energy poised for simpler U.S. review

Fusion energy — tapping the power of the stars — is on the cusp of getting new federal rules. Why it matters: Regulators increasingly view fusion as fundamentally safer than nuclear fission, helping to pave the way for a substantially simpler permitting process than the one faced by conventional nuclear plants. Driving the news : The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission is closing the public comment period on the proposed rule on Wednesday, with a final regulation expected as soon as this fall. The big picture : Fusion electricity doesn't yet exist in reality, but industry leaders see this regulatory move as fundamental to commercializing the technology in the United States in the next decade. "This is a big deal — we've been working toward this for a long time," said Andrew Holland, CEO of the Fusion Industry Association. How it works : Fission — the type of nuclear energy widely used today — generates power by splitting heavy atoms apart, creating heat for electricity but also long-lived radioactive waste. Fusion, on the other hand, generates power by combining light atoms together to release energy — the same process that powers the stars — while producing no long-lived radioactive waste. Federal regulators concluded in 2023 that fusion's risk profile is far closer to that of existing medical and research radiation systems instead of nuclear fission. " Most importantly , this rule makes clear that fusion energy is permanently and completely separated from the regulation of nuclear fission," states a letter the fusion trade group submitted to regulators Thursday ahead of next week's deadline, and reviewed by Axios. Zoom in : The physics of fission require extensive engineering and safety systems to prevent runaway reactions — though nuclear power remains one of the safest forms of energy overall. Fusion, by contrast, lacks the long-lived radioactive waste associated with fission and can't sustain runaway reactions that cause trad...

Original source: Axios