Achieving a Social License for Fusion Energy

Fusion has the potential to address humanity’s energy needs.  However, there is a risk that fusion will not play a substantial role in mitigating climate change or alleviating energy poverty due to a lack of social acceptance.  This risk is not academic -- other promising technologies, such as fission reactors, spent fuel waste repositories (i.e., Yucca Mountain), genetically modified foods, and even vaccines, struggle because they are rejected by a substantial fraction of society.  Conventional approaches to social acceptance, including risk-reducing technical solutions, such as replacing fission with fusion, and better “communication” or “education,” are unlikely, on their own, to alleviate a lack of acceptance [1].

Looking to other industries, endeavors, and fields of research, this talk will describe this risk and explore established methods that have been used to achieve social acceptance of new technologies and specific projects, particularly the "social license" [2] and bioethical review [3]. A key insight of these methods is that technology proponents can facilitate accpetance by engaging in meaningful two-way dialogue with the public and by addressing the public’s concerns through technical modifications and/or adjustments to business models.  The talk will conclude with specific recommendations for researchers, funders, regulators and other stakeholders to facilitate long term social acceptance of fusion power.

[1] Otway HJ, Maurer D, Thomas K, “Nuclear power: The question of public acceptance,” Futures 10:109–118 (1978). doi: 10.1016/0016-3287(78)90065-4

[2] Hoedl, Seth A. "A Social License for Nuclear Technologies." Nuclear Non-Proliferation in International Law-Volume IV. TMC Asser Press, The Hague, 2019. 19-44. https://arxiv.org/pdf/2009.09844

[3] Hoedl, Seth A. “Ethical Review for Nuclear Power: Inspiration from Bioethics.” Nuclear Non-Proliferation in International Law-Volume VI. (Springer/Asser Press, forthcoming in 2021)