MUNICH/GUNDREMMINGEN (dpa-AFX) - By the early 2030s, a research reactor for nuclear fusion is set to be built in Garching near Munich at a cost of around two billion euros. In Munich, representatives of the Bavarian state government, the Munich start-up Proxima Fusion, the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP), and DAX-listed company RWE signed a memorandum of understanding for the project. The goal: to cooperate on the path from the demonstration reactor "Alpha" to the first commercial magnetic fusion power plant at the site of the former Gundremmingen nuclear power plant, about 100 kilometers away.

Project relies on funding from Bavaria, Berlin, and investors

"Financing this will be a real feat, that must be said. The "Alpha" project alone will cost two billion euros," said Bavaria's Minister-President Markus Söder (CSU). The Free State will contribute 400 million euros.

At least another 400 million euros will come from Proxima Fusion through private investors—these days, a major investor conference is taking place in Munich to raise funds. He is very hopeful that the federal government will take on its share for this "major national project," which, according to Söder, "must" be more than one billion euros.

According to Proxima Fusion founder Francesco Sciortino, this is nothing less than the opportunity "to build an entirely new industry." The aim is to have the facility operational in the next six or seven years. However, this will require a truly world-class effort.

Fusion reactor "Stellaris" to be built in Gundremmingen

In parallel with the "Alpha" project, which will be located right next to the Max Planck Institute in Garching, preparations are to be made in Gundremmingen for the later construction of the first commercially usable fusion reactor "Stellaris," according to RWE. This reactor is to be largely identical to "Alpha" and will enable the generation of usable energy through magnetic fusion technology. Fusion research is being conducted worldwide—but so far, more energy still needs to be put in than is ultimately produced.

Science Minister Markus Blume (CSU) stated that "this last piece" of the funding puzzle had not yet been discussed. In the end, the technology "must also demonstrate (...) that it can make money on the electricity market and, ideally, on a large scale, because that's what we ultimately need."

RWE CEO Krebber does not expect a funding problem

RWE CEO Markus Krebber expressed strong optimism that construction would not ultimately fail due to a lack of money: "If the 'Alpha' works," not only will the timeline become increasingly firm, but there will also be enough private capital available.

Fusion energy is based on the process of merging ("fusion") atomic nuclei, which is the source of energy for the sun and other stars. The construction of fusion power plants has been discussed in science since the 1950s. Critics argue, for example, that due to the enormous investment sums, money is lacking elsewhere for climate protection.

For Söder and the other project partners, nuclear fusion, as a completely new technology, offers the prospect of reliable, CO2-free, and clean electricity in unlimited quantities. This could satisfy the exponentially growing electricity demand from electromobility, AI, and data centers. RWE CEO Krebber also called it a "game changer for energy supply." He described the timeline as ambitious but achievable.

"Unparalleled waste of taxpayers' money" and "crash landing"

The environmental organization Greenpeace and the Green Party in the state parliament criticized the fusion plans: "From our point of view, nuclear fusion is not a solution for the energy transition," said Martin Stümpfig of the Greens. He described the investments as an "unparalleled waste of taxpayers' money." Physicist Heinz Smital of Greenpeace also called the plans unserious, as the technology simply does not exist. "It is already foreseeable today that Markus Söder will suffer a crash landing with his fusion reactor plans."/had/DP/jha