Fusion for All? Exploring Energy Justice in Fusion Development
Sophie Cogan
In this article, Environment & Politics PhD student and OFC team member Sophie Cogan explores the relationship between fusion energy and the idea of Energy Justice - thinking about what it might mean for fusion to truly provide benefits ‘for all’.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Open Fusion Collective.
As efforts to reach net-zero by 2050 intensify while energy demand continues to rise, decarbonisation of energy production has become a priority. However, in the context of climate change and the transition to ‘clean’ energy systems, the carbon-based energy systems that fuelled development in many high-income countries are being restricted or discouraged in less developed states.
This imbalance suggests a need to consider global justice more closely in the development of new energy technologies and systems. One way to do this is through the lens of ‘Energy Justice’.
Energy Justice is a way of understanding, researching, and developing energy systems based on the understanding that everybody should have access to sufficient, affordable, safe, and sustainable energy.
There are several different accounts of Energy Justice, but most centre on the principles that energy systems should:
Fairly distribute the costs and benefits of energy production for both producers and consumers.
For example, who bears the cost of mining minerals and producing materials, and who benefits from the energy produced?
Provide fair access to energy systems and services
For example, who has access to knowledge and technology that will enable a state to meet their energy needs?
Allow for open, accessible information and participation in decision-making
For example, consulting local communities about building power plants and taking their concerns into account.
This post also takes a ‘cosmopolitan’ approach to Energy Justice. This means it accounts for the global aspects of energy systems, supply chains and impacts.
What Energy Justice means for Fusion
With the idea of Energy Justice in mind, we can see how the fusion energy could meet these principles, or fall short.
Fusion is often framed as a ‘holy grail’ energy source or a ‘Promethean spark of hope’ for climate change mitigation efforts. Several fusion organisations and companies also claim fusion technology can be globally scalable, making it an abundant, clean energy source ‘to transform the world’s energy supply’.
These bold claims mean it is important to look at how fusion is developed, and how it might be deployed, in line with Energy Justice principles. For distribution, accessibility and decision-making, there are several aspects of fusion energy that may be addressed to ensure alignment - here I outline a few examples.
Energy Justice in development phase
In fusion development, there is a ‘divide’ in the states involved. More developed states are overly represented in fusion research and development, while many less developed states are not (except for India, Thailand, Brazil, and Malaysia). Many countries simply don’t have the economic capacity to engage with fusion research. Funding is a challenge even in the more developed states, which is one of the reasons there has been so much international collaboration in developing fusion.
There are several consequences of this divide for Energy Justice.
The first consequence is the ability to share knowledge from the development phase. This raises concerns about the potential for inequalities in long-term access to the technology and other knowledge that may emerge from R&D and risks widening existing global inequalities.
Another consequence of this ‘divide’ is that it may not reflect a fair distribution of costs and benefits. For instance, fusion relies on materials, such as lithium used both the reactor wall and for producing the tritium fuel, are frequently sourced from countries that are not meaningfully involved in fusion R&D. Thus, these states may shoulder environmental and social costs without sharing in the technology’s long-term benefits.
A further consequence is the lack of input of those beyond the immediate scope of the technology in development-stage design decisions. Decisions in development may have effects for local communities and environments now and in the future.
Energy Justice in deployment phase
If fusion proves to be commercially viable, there are also challenges for Energy Justice in the potential deployment phase.
Firstly, since funding, intellectual property and technological capacity is focused in developed states, these countries are likely to benefit first and most from deployment. Without incentives to roll out the technology more widely, fusion could be an energy source for a few rather than providing genuine benefits ‘worldwide’.
Secondly, incompatibility with existing energy infrastructure could also limit safe and reliable deployment in some states. This could be material infrastructure, such as in grid capacity and connectivity, legal infrastructure, such as regulatory frameworks and oversight, or organisational infrastructure, such as specialised workforce. This may mean fusion is not accessible on a global scale.
Thirdly, inclusive decision-making is crucial in the deployment phase. Here, decisions need to consider the whole lifecycle of the technology - from raw materials to siting, grid access to waste handling. This means considering public opinions early, particularly of those who may bear environmental or social burdens. Integrating public perspectives not only ensures fairness and transparency but could build trust and facilitate broader acceptance of the technology throughout its operation.
So, can fusion align with principles of Energy Justice and truly be an energy source ‘for all’?
Maybe. Fusion energy shows potential within the global energy transition, by adding a potentially more clean and less carbon intensive energy source to the mix.
But approaches to development and deployment should consider costs and benefits, accessibility and inclusive decision-making to make sure it is included in a just way.
Decisions made in development and deployment are not simply technical or economic - they are deeply social and ethical. So if we want fusion to fit into a just energy future, we have steps to take to avoid creating inequities or reinforcing existing ones.
Sophie Cogan is a PhD researcher within the Fusion-CDT at the University of York. With a background in Politics and Philosophy, and Global Health, her work has covered a range of topics, though often are underpinned by interest in global justice and applied ethics. Her PhD research focuses on the social and ethical aspects of fusion energy technology, particularly the role of values in the research and development process.
Connect with Sophie on LinkedIn
Want to respond? Leave a comment below or get in touch to share your own contribution at hello@openfusioncollective.org