U.S. and Japan Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance Fusion Energy

The U.S. Energy Department and Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology announced a strategic partnership on April 10 to advance fusion energy capabilities. Monitored through the Coordinating Committee on Fusion Energy, CCFE, the collaboration aims to identify opportunities for advancing demonstration and commercialization of fusion energy. Leveraging resources and facilities in both countries, this partnership seeks to expedite fusion research and development efforts.

The U.S. and Japan have long collaborated in the area of fusion. The CCFE, collaborative between the United States and Japan, facilitates research, exchange programs, and coordinated planning in the field of fusion energy. CCFE operates under the Agreement between the Governments of the United States of America and Japan on Cooperation in Research and Development in Science and Technology, or the STA.

The key pillars that the partnership intends to focus on include addressing scientific and technical challenges in fusion energy, aligning with STA endeavors. The partnership emphasizes exploring shared access to and the development of fusion research facilities to maximize their value for the two nations. Furthermore, the partnership aims to promote international regulatory harmony, drawing on the expertise of entities like the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and global organizations. The collaboration also seeks to establish resilient global supply chains for commercial fusion deployment through industry dialogue. Engaging communities is paramount to gain social acceptance for fusion energy and facilitate a smooth transition to clean energy sources. Additionally, the partnership underscores the importance of comprehensive skills development to meet the evolving needs of the fusion sector, ensuring a diverse and skilled workforce for future growth.

Building on their history of collaboration in fusion energy, the partnership will advance the U.S. Bold Decadal Vision for Commercial Fusion Energy and Japan’s Fusion Energy Innovation Strategy. The Biden administration is driving forward fusion energy, and hosted the inaugural White House summit on Commercial Fusion Energy’s Bold Decadal Vision on March 17, 2022. This historic event united over 1,200 leaders from government, industry, and academia to discuss progress and strategies. The Administration unveiled three key initiatives: leading the development of a decadal strategy, launching a DOE-wide Fusion Initiative, and allocating $50 million for foundational research. These efforts mark a significant push towards realizing fusion energy’s potential as a clean and sustainable energy source.

During the 28th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), the United States and 21 other nations from across four continents pledged to triple global nuclear energy capacity by mid-century, compared to 2020 levels. This commitment, articulated in the “Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy” on December 2, recognizes the pivotal role of nuclear power in achieving worldwide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and in limiting global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The pledge encompasses various actions, including ensuring responsible operation, mobilizing investments, engaging financial institutions, supporting diverse reactor development, strengthening supply chains, and advocating for extending the lifetimes of nuclear plants. Additionally, a recent strategic partnership between the U.S. Energy Department and the UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero aims to accelerate the demonstration and commercialization of fusion energy, aligning with both nations’ goals for low-carbon energy solutions.