20.500.12556/RUL-183039 Selling a dream? Fusion experts’ perspectives on the challenges of fusion deployment: Evidence from conference workshops Nuclear fusion is increasingly positioned as a pillar of future low-carbon energy systems, yet its deployment depends heavily on how experts frame timelines, system roles, and governance. This exploratory qualitative study analyses how fusion insiders navigate the tension of "selling a dream", balancing aspirational visions with the risks of deferred delivery. Data were collected from expert workshops at three major conferences: SOFE 2023 (Oxford), FEC 2023 (London), and SOFT 2024 (Dublin). Through reflexive thematic analysis, five themes emerged: fusion’s role in energy systems, deployment timescales, energy justice, risk governance, and social licence. Results show that experts view fusion primarily as a complementary "flexible option" rather than a standalone solution. They emphasize milestone-based roadmaps over fixed dates and argue that credibility requires a "showstoppers-first" transparency regarding waste and regulation. The analysis synthesizes three expert stances (balanced hope, open caution, and realistic risk management) and offers practical recommendations for aligning communication and governance with industrial realities. stakeholder engagement reflexive thematic analysis risk governance transparency social licence energy trilemma vključevanje deležnikov refleksivna tematska analiza upravljanje tveganj transparentnost družbena licenca energetska trilema true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Članek v reviji 2026-06-02 14:30:48 2026-06-02 14:30:57 2026-06-03 04:31:56 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2026 0 0 8 str. art. 115830 Vol. 229 2026 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 005.52:620.9 1873-7196 10.1016/j.fusengdes.2026.115830 280178947 Stankiewicz_....Selling_a_dream.pdf Stankiewicz_....Selling_a_dream.pdf 1 25493872F2C9BBB90A53C39C40B4AA71 b505e8dcef28a6254b0f06b09693c940478cc0601e58578858f3667be97847fe ba758178-5e7e-11f1-b0ab-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=234851 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0920379626002176 1 8bc368a4-5e7e-11f1-b0ab-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=234850 Fakulteta za strojništvo 0 0 0