Feature by Søren Bang Korsholm, PhD, Senior Researcher at DTU Physics and Head of Centre for DANfusion, Anders C. Wulff, CEO of SUBRA A/S and Vice Chair of the European Fusion Association (EFA), and Henrik Bindslev, Professor and Dean at SDU Faculty of Engineering and board member of DANfusion. Published in Berlingske, Tuesday April 1,2025.
We are at the dawn of a global fusion age, with developments accelerating rapidly in both the US and Asia, while Europe is taking a more cautious approach. At the same time, the world is facing increasing geopolitical instability, making Europe's dependence on energy imports a particular vulnerability.
Europe has been a leader in international fusion energy research and innovation for decades, but just as we are getting closer to the goal, we are falling behind. As highlighted in the Draghi report, fusion energy represents a unique opportunity to revitalize European industry and become a driver of growth and innovation. With strong research institutions and companies covering the entire value chain of fusion development and production, Europe has the necessary expertise and specializations. It is time for Europe to take the lead again - and Denmark can play a key role with its technological strengths and the upcoming EU presidency.
Copy of the sun
Fusion energy is the energy of the sun and stars, where enormous amounts of energy are released when hydrogen nuclei fuse into helium. In short, fusion energy is the fundamental energy process of the universe. If on Earth we can emulate nature at its wildest, we will have an energy source that will not run out of fuel as long as the Earth exists. An energy source that is safe in terms of radioactivity, with no possibility of meltdown, and no CO2 emissions. At the same time, fusion energy can provide both base-load electricity, hydrogen for P2X and/or district heating. In other words, fusion energy will be the unique match needed in a future sustainable energy system in strong synergy with wind and solar.
Copying the Sun is not easy; research has been working towards the goal of fusion power plants for decades, but over the last 5 years the goal has suddenly shifted to the near future: Leading experts predict that commercial power plants will be realized in the 2030s or perhaps the early 2040s - and regardless of the timeline, the industrial acceleration is happening now - and Denmark must be on board.
Over the past decade, interest in fusion research in Denmark has been growing. Several companies are already, or are working to become, suppliers to the world's largest fusion research facility, ITER (Cadarache, France), other research facilities, or directly to one of the now 45+ private fusion companies. On the academic front, DANfusion was established in 2020 to bring together research groups from DTU, SDU, AU and AAU - all recognized research environments that have secured European fusion research contracts. Denmark has also been appointed host (SDU Odense) for a European test facility for remote handling for future fusion power plants.
In addition, there is increased international attention to Danish competencies in both research and business, large European and national grants (including DKK 60 million from the Novo Nordisk Foundation's Challenge programme), a significant growth in university students' focus on fusion, and a growing interest from new players in the field.
Re-establishing European leadership in fusion technology
Across Europe, both fusion companies and suppliers to the fusion industry are now coming together in the newly established non-profit organization, the European Fusion Association (EFA), of which Danish SUBRA is a co-founder. EFA's purpose is to unite and strengthen the European industry, re-establish European leadership in fusion technology and promote the development of commercial fusion power plants in Europe.
Taking the next step and bringing Denmark into the fusion age requires political action and a strong, long-term national strategy. This strategy should lay the foundation for solid investments through public-private partnerships that should be anchored in collaboration between our industry and universities. In such collaborations, including early involvement of strategic investors and decisive political support, we can ensure that Danish innovation becomes Danish production.
The strategy must facilitate Denmark maximizing the benefits of the rapid international development in fusion energy - a strategy that integrates unique Danish research, accelerated innovation and timely training of necessary skills (engineers, technicians and researchers). The effort must be long-term and help create a strong foundation for sustainable commercial deliveries to both private and public fusion projects.
If the strategy is designed correctly, the development of Danish innovation in fusion energy can act as a political Swiss knife, scoring high in research, innovation, business, climate and energy policy - and thus also security policy.
American billionaires and venture capital funds have recognized the potential and in just a few years they have invested more than 8 billion USD in private fusion energy development companies. Several governments (US, UK, Japan, China, Germany) have also recognized the strategically important potential of fusion energy, and so should we in Denmark.
These countries have implemented long-term national strategies that, among other topics, support development through public-private partnerships, promote the acceleration of public research, adapt regulatory frameworks to fusion energy and ensure a strategic focus on increasing investment in the national supply chain industry for international fusion research and development.
The development of fusion power plants requires the integration of an almost endless array of technologies, each of which must be challenged to the maximum. This means that research and innovation in fusion technology not only drives progress in fusion energy but also leads to breakthroughs in many other areas. Technologies and intellectual property arising from fusion technology development can be applied across sectors such as health-tech, energy technology, materials development, security, robotics and electronics, contributing to innovation on a wide range of fronts.
Danish competences in universities and industry have positions of strength that can play a significant role in the global and European development of fusion energy. This will strengthen Danish business, research and education - and not least - the green transition.
It's time for action: We need a Danish fusion strategy.
