The Government has published a dedicated National Policy Statement (NPS) – EN-8 – to guide the development of fusion energy infrastructure in England and Wales.
Seen as vital to accelerating the country’s leadership in zero carbon innovation, the EN-8 policy will remove key barriers to siting and consent for fusion plants.
Fusion energy, which replicates the process that powers the sun, could deliver huge volumes of clean, steady electricity – but only if planning systems are ready to support it.
The policy confirms fusion will now be classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), regardless of how much electricity it generates.
That removes the previous 50 MW threshold under the Planning Act 2008 for energy projects in England, giving developers clarity on how their projects will be assessed.
It also expands the definition of output to include both electricity and thermal energy, allowing for industrial heat uses like hydrogen production or desalination.
By doing this, the Government aims to futureproof planning rules for fusion plants, many of which are already in development and expected to begin siting and construction before 2030.
The proposed EN-8 framework will support both magnetic confinement and inertial confinement technologies.
It will also adopt a “developer-led” approach, where developers choose sites based on safety, environmental and operational criteria set out in the NPS.
This avoids the delays of centralised site designation and allows the sector to move quickly while maintaining public scrutiny and regulatory oversight.
Fusion’s potential as a game-changer for net zero is significant.
One bathtub of seawater and lithium from two laptop batteries could power a single person’s needs for 60 years.
There are no carbon emissions, no high-level radioactive waste and no chain reactions like in nuclear fission.
Fusion can also support co-production of hydrogen, synthetic fuels, medical isotopes and district heat.
But while the EN-8 proposals apply in both England and Wales, key differences remain. In Wales, the 350 MW threshold for NSIPs still stands.
That means fusion projects below that size will be consented by Welsh local planning authorities, not via the NSIP regime.
Anything above the threshold is referred to the Secretary of State. Scotland and Northern Ireland will set their own policies.
The policy’s publication is a signal to private investors that fusion is being taken seriously, with government aiming to create a stable, long-term planning environment.
Ministers say the new framework balances innovation with public accountability and will underpin the UK’s ambitions to be a global fusion energy leader.
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