Canada's CNL Takes Lead in Fusion Energy Development
Key Ideas
- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) has developed a fusion roadmap and initiated new programs to advance fusion deployment globally.
- CNL emphasizes the importance of early-mover advantage in capturing the growing fusion market, calling for government support to establish a fusion ecosystem.
- CNL recognizes fusion energy's potential for clean energy, climate change mitigation, and national security, proposing demonstrations and commercialization by 2050.
- CNL expands clean energy programs to include fusion technologies and collaborates on a joint venture to develop deuterium-tritium fusion fuel cycle technologies.
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) has unveiled a fusion roadmap in collaboration with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and others, highlighting the expanding global fusion market. CNL urges the Canadian government to swiftly mobilize a fusion ecosystem to harness economic benefits and support the nuclear sector. Dr. Stephen Bushby, CNL's VP of Science & Technology, emphasized fusion's potential for clean energy and called for decisive action to secure a leadership role for Canada. The roadmap envisions Canadian demonstrations by 2034 and global deployment post-2050. CNL plans to integrate fusion technologies into its clean energy programs and expand nuclear research initiatives to include fusion. Additionally, CNL has partnered with Japan's Kyoto Fusioneering to establish Fusion Fuel Cycles Inc., focusing on developing deuterium-tritium fusion fuel cycle technologies. The JV's UNITY-2 project aims to pioneer D-T fuel cycle technologies by 2026 at Chalk River Laboratories, addressing critical fusion plant risks and enabling commercialization.