The September 22nd session on Fusion Energy and the Role of Standards revealed crucial considerations about making this promising technology commercially viable.
In this article, we will explore those considerations and the standards that are helping to drive fusion energy’s transition from experimental science to commercial reality. These include how they are supporting innovation, ensuring safety and enabling the industry’s acceleration toward net zero.
The UK government has demonstrated serious commitment with £2.5 billion over 5 years assigned to fusion research and development.
Notably, the UK became the first country to introduce fusion-specific planning rules, signalling regulatory readiness for this emerging sector.
Sebastiaan Van Dort, Director of Energy & Sustainability at BSI, described the UK's STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme as aiming to build a commercial fusion power plant by 2040, "really creating a hub of clean energy innovation."
As the world looks toward fusion energy as a source of clean, abundant, and reliable power, one often-overlooked question is emerging at the heart of the discussion: what role will standards play in enabling its success?
Dr Isobel Houghton, Chief Engineer at AtkinsRéalis and Chair of NCE/1 Nuclear Coordination Committee, noted that very few standards have been written expressly for fusion.
Today the core published set is limited to:
BS ISO 4233:2023 Reactor technology — Nuclear fusion reactors — Hot-helium leak-testing method for high-temperature pressure-bearing components (NCE/3)
BS EN ISO 16646:2025 Nuclear installations — Criteria for the design and operation of confinement and ventilation systems of tritium-handling fusion facilities (NCE/2)
ISO 18518:2025 Safety-system requirements for superconducting technology in nuclear-fusion facilities (NCE/2)
BS ISO 20041-1:2022 Tritium and carbon-14 activity in gaseous effluents — Part 1: Sampling (NCE/2)
BS ISO 20041-2:2025 Tritium and carbon-14 activity in gaseous effluents — Part 2: Activity determination by bubbling technique (NCE/2)
BS ISO 14152:2001 Neutron radiation-protection shielding — Design principles and material selection
Yet, beyond these niches a large standardization gap remains.
Dr Houghton noted that this is not a flaw but the natural result of rapid technical evolution and diverse reactor designs. Without an overarching structure, however, detailed standards could lag behind progress.
Her recommendation is to develop a high-level, principle-based framework now. That framework would let detailed requirements mature alongside technology, keeping safety, interoperability and quality aligned without stifling innovation.
Dr Mutaz Bashir, Principal Engineering Analyst at United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), agreed.
“Commercial fusion in both private and public sectors is now taking big strides.”
Many engineering challenges are common across reactor concepts, providing fertile ground for shared solutions and, ultimately, shared standards.
Dr. Isobel Houghton posed a critical question that cuts to the heart of the standardization challenge: "At what level do you standardize?"
This seemingly simple question opens complex considerations for an industry still defining itself. Dr. Houghton clarified NCE/1's (BSI’s nuclear coordination committee’s) strategic approach: while it's too early for prescriptive technical standards that might lock in specific fusion technologies, there's significant opportunity for standards that enable the industry's development.
She advocated for capturing "current fusion specific best practice from across the world" and sharing that understanding through "recommended practices, design guides, technical notes."
To illustrate the transformative power of standardization, Dr Houghton shared a compelling historical example from the early Industrial Revolution.
Before the introduction of Whitworth screw threads, each engineer or manufacturer produced nuts and bolts with their own unique dimensions. A bolt made in one workshop might not fit a nut made in another, creating enormous inefficiencies and hampering collaboration.
When Sir Joseph Whitworth proposed a standardized screw thread in the 1840s, it changed everything. Interchangeable parts became possible, enabling mass production, easier maintenance and faster technological progress.
Houghton used this analogy to underline how fusion energy could similarly benefit. By adopting shared standards early, the sector could avoid fragmentation, accelerate commercial readiness and establish global trust in fusion systems and components.
The approach requires careful balance. Standards need to be complementary and not too prescriptive.
Dr. Houghton noted that "BSI is ideally placed with support from the UK experts... to lead development of the standards that we're going to need for fusion to realise UK's ambition to become a global leader in commercial fusion energy."
Dr. Houghton also made a point that cuts straight to fusion's commercial reality.
"Without safety, nobody has a commercial proposition. No one is going to invest in a fusion powered plant that isn't considered safe. It won't get a licence."
This highlights how safety standards aren't bureaucratic obstacles to fusion energy, but rather the foundation that transforms fusion from an exciting science project into an investable clean energy proposition.
Dr. Bashir highlighted a pragmatic approach, that fusion doesn't need to reinvent the wheel.
He noted that "many of the key engineering challenges are largely common" across different fusion projects and even with other industries. This cross-pollination of knowledge means fusion can adapt proven solutions from sectors that have already tackled similar challenges.
Dr. Amanda Niedfeldt, Head of Business Development at DigiLab, brought another dimension to the discussion — the role of advanced AI in fusion operations and regulation.
As AI systems take on increasing responsibilities in fusion facilities, the need for robust frameworks becomes paramount. She argued that while some industries limit AI’s use in safety-critical systems, fusion presents a unique opportunity to integrate AI more deeply - not just for monitoring, but for adaptive control, predictive maintenance, and design optimization.
Using her concept of an "AI adoption iceberg," she explained that building the model is just the visible tip, but underneath lie challenges of reproducibility, security, data sovereignty and cultural alignment.
The challenge, she noted, will be ensuring that standards for AI in fusion remain flexible and future-oriented, so they can adapt as both the technology and regulatory expectations evolve. Niedfeldt emphasized that trustworthiness emerges as an essential framework for human adoption, particularly when there's risk and concern. She noted that standards for AI in fusion must address not just technical performance but also the transparency and explainability needed to build confidence in these systems.
Standardization here isn’t about constraining innovation, but about providing the guardrails for trustworthy, safe deployment.
The panel referenced the UK's STEP programme when discussing how standards apply to real fusion projects.
STEP aims to build a prototype fusion energy plant, a significant undertaking that illustrates why getting standards right matters.
The key insight was that standards for such pioneering programmes must walk a fine line - robust enough to ensure safety and compatibility, flexible enough to accommodate first-of-a-kind innovations. Decisions about standards made now will shape whether various global efforts can learn from each other and build toward a unified industry.
Dr. Bashir emphasized that "collaboration & coordination is critical for realising these engineering challenges." He called for fusion experts to "cluster around standard development organizations to proactively help and support with the development of these codes and standards," noting that these organizations offer platforms for this work.
The panel stressed the importance of avoiding competing standards to prevent industry fragmentation, while maintaining the flexibility needed for continued innovation. This collaborative approach is essential for fusion's success.
With commercial fusion taking big strides, the panel indicated the industry stands at an important moment. Investment is accelerating and multiple approaches are being pursued globally. The discussion emphasized how decisions about standards made now will shape whether these various efforts can learn from each other and build toward a unified industry.
Dr. Houghton's closing recommendation to policymakers was unequivocal.
"Be really clear about what it is that we're trying to achieve with fusion and be really clear that we want to collaborate. We don't want to work on this alone...it's got to be a collaborative effort."
She emphasized the importance of international cooperation, stating "we need to be really clear as policymakers that we collaborate internationally, not compete."
Van Dort concluded that this conversation represents "just the beginning." With fusion technology advancing and major investments flowing, the industry must balance innovation with the frameworks needed for safe, efficient deployment.
The session underscored that fusion's success requires not just solving technical challenges but creating the standards and common approaches that enable safe, efficient deployment.
For those watching the energy transition, the message from Net Zero Week was clear: fusion is making real progress, and standards are the crucial enabler that will help transform scientific achievement into commercial reality.
BSI’s expertise in developing standards for emerging sectors provides key pathways for the fusion industry.
BSI Flex Standards offer agile frameworks that evolve with technology, balancing innovation and guidance. PAS Standards enable consensus through expert input and public consultation, helping align safety and practices across the sector.
You can get in touch with BSI or learn more about how we can support the development of standards and customized best practices through our page here: Publicly Available Specification (PAS) & Best Practice | BSI