EU Commission President von der Leyen and Minister President Söder want an alliance for nuclear fusion

The President of the European Commission, Dr Ursula von der Leyen, visited the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Garching today with the Bavarian Minister President, Dr Markus Söder.

The talks with the Scientific Director of the IPP, Prof Dr Sibylle Günter, focused on the path to a European fusion power plant.

Minister President Söder told media representatives: "Nuclear fusion is the opportunity for clean, safe and CO2-neutral energy for all of humanity. With our Bavarian masterplan for nuclear fusion, which includes 100 million euros in funding, we are resolutely pursuing this path of the future and have the clear goal of having a fusion reactor in Bavaria. With the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Garching, we have a world-renowned location. We now need a clear legal framework from the EU, a European fusion alliance with strong support and networking of all players on the continent."

EU Commission President von der Leyen emphasised: "We need to create a dedicated regulatory framework for nuclear fusion. We need to send a clear political signal that there is investment security for private capital, too. The fact that the public sector has made a very clear commitment to stay on the ball here for years and decades means that there is investment security for the industry. And we need to strengthen and expand the ecosystem that has been built up here in Garching in such an exemplary way, namely that all components, that all those who can contribute to the development of nuclear fusion, find ideal site conditions here. I am happy to pick up the ball of a fusion alliance. Let's work on it and when we have created it, let's celebrate it here in Garching."

IPP Director Sibylle Günter said: "I am delighted that we are talking about an alliance here. We have recently received the support of the Free State of Bavaria: This month, the expert commission will begin its work as part of the nuclear fusion mission. And I am also pleased, Madam President of the Commission, that you want to continue this dialogue with us - especially on the important European topic of the regulatory framework, but also on promoting the European location for a power plant."

The Bavarian State Ministers for Science and Economic Affairs, Markus Blume and Hubert Aiwanger, joined the exchange. Other participants included representatives of the fusion start-up companies Gauss Fusion, Marvel Fusion and Proxima Fusion as well as Prof Dr Robert Schlögl, Chairman of the Bavarian Expert Commission “Mission Kernfusion” and President of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.