Selling a dream? Fusion experts’ perspectives on the challenges of fusion deployment: Evidence from conference workshops

Stankiewicz, Piotr (avtor), Meskens, Gaston (avtor), Oltra, Christian (avtor), Čok, Vanja (avtor), Giacometti, Alessio (avtor), Bustreo, Chiara (avtor)

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.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: stakeholder engagement, reflexive thematic analysis, risk governance, transparency, social licence, energy trilemma
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FS - Fakulteta za strojništvo
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: 8 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 229, art. 115830
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-183039
• UDK: 005.52:620.9
• ISSN pri članku: 1873-7196
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fusengdes.2026.115830
• COBISS.SI-ID: 280178947
• Datum objave v RUL: 02.06.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Fusion engineering and design
• Založnik: Elsevier
• COBISS.SI-ID: 23146245

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva-Nekomercialno-Brez predelav 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: Najbolj omejujoča licenca Creative Commons. Uporabniki lahko prenesejo in delijo delo v nekomercialne namene in ga ne smejo uporabiti za nobene druge namene.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: vključevanje deležnikov, refleksivna tematska analiza, upravljanje tveganj, transparentnost, družbena licenca, energetska trilema

Projekti

• Financer: EC - European Commission
• Številka projekta: 101052200
• Naslov: Implementation of activities described in the Roadmap to Fusion during Horizon Europe through a joint programme of the members of the EUROfusion consortium
• Akronim: EUROfusion