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• A new paper from First Light Fusion and consultancy Stonehaven outlines a roadmap for commercial fusion in the UK by 2035, beating the Government’s current 2040 target.
• As China and the US pour billions into fusion, the report warns that without urgent action, Britain will surrender its global leadership and the economic windfall that comes with it.
• By pairing First Light’s FLARE approach with targeted regulatory reforms, the paper says the UK can unlock a faster, simpler path to limitless clean energy, and stay competitive in the global fusion race.

First Light Fusion (FLF), the UK’s leading Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) company, and strategic consultancy Stonehaven have today launched a new paper, Future for Fusion Roadmap, detailing how Britain can attain commercial nuclear fusion within the next decade.

The paper warns that without changing its current approach to fusion, Britain faces losing out to the US and China, countries who are investing billions to bring fusion to market in the 2030s, positioning themselves to dominate the sector. If the UK falls behind, it will miss out on the economic, strategic and technological advantages that come with leading the global fusion race.

By combining FLF’s innovative ‘FLARE’ approach with targeted regulatory reforms, the report argues the UK could reach commercial fusion well ahead of the Government’s current 2040 target. This would enhance Britain’s competitiveness against China and the US not only in fusion itself, but also across the spin-off industries set to benefit from limitless clean energy, including defence, aerospace, and artificial intelligence.

According to the paper, First Light’s FLARE approach would significantly accelerate the path to commercialisation. The concept has already gained international recognition from leading physicists, as well as support from Lord Patrick Vallance, the UK Government’s Science Minister, and Lord David Willetts, former Science Minister and Chair of the Foundation for Science and Technology.

FLF and Stonehaven argue that incorporating IFE into the UK’s research and regulatory framework – alongside Magnetic Confinement Fusion (MCF) – could dramatically shorten development timelines.

To make Britain the best place in the world to build fusion capability, FLF and Stonehaven are calling for targeted regulatory reforms. They want to see IFE recognised alongside MCF in the UK’s Fusion Strategy, proper regulation that differentiates fusion from fission, and an emphasis placed on Britain’s AI and experimental capability, which will showcase the country’s fusion value chain to potential investors.

The paper also highlights the importance of collaboration across industry, academia and government. Industry brings the capacity to innovate, manufacture, and scale reactor technologies; academia contributes vital research and talent to address scientific and engineering challenges; and government must provide the regulatory frameworks, investment, and long-term policy certainty necessary to de-risk private capital.

Mark Thomas, CEO of First Light Fusion, said: “With the US and China both pushing for commercial fusion deployment in the 2030s, the UK could be left as a consumer – as opposed to a leader – in a sector that will define the future of energy if we fail to act quickly.

“Britain does hold a winning hand – we just need to play it. With simple yet urgent reforms, this country can become the best place in the world for fusion capabilities. By modernising regulation and recognising the potential of IFE through our unique FLARE approach, we can turn scientific leadership in strategic advantage – and ensure Britain’s place at the heart of the global fusion economy

Adam Bell, Director of Policy at Stonehaven, said: “There is a fusion race, and it is a race Britain can win. Thanks to our decades of research, we stand ready to lead the world in its deployment – if we can get our act together in time. We need to ensure people who want to build fusion reactors in the UK can do so in confidence that they will be allowed to do so. If we don’t, we’ll see our lead and our expertise go overseas. Britain needs to be the easiest place in the world to build a fusion reactor.”

ENDS