Aomori Prefecture in Japan to Apply as Candidate Site for Nuclear Fusion Power Generation Demonstration Facility

On August 19, Soichiro Miyashita, Governor of Aomori Prefecture, stated that the prefecture will apply as a candidate site for a nuclear fusion power generation demonstration facility once relevant preparatory work is completed. Starlight Engine, a Japanese nuclear fusion startup, is currently soliciting candidate sites from prefectures and government-designated cities, with plans to conduct field surveys of promising candidates as early as this autumn.

Starlight Engine plans to finalize the construction site by 2028, launch the FAST nuclear fusion power generation demonstration project in 2035, and conduct power generation demonstrations in 2038. The application deadline for site selection is October. Aomori Prefecture stated that it will consult with Rokkasho Village and formally submit the application after preparing the necessary documents.

Aomori Prefecture hopes to leverage the existing nuclear fusion research and development infrastructure in Rokkasho Village to build a nuclear fusion industry and R&D hub in the Mutsu-Ogawara Development Zone. At a meeting held in Aomori City, Miyashita stated that approximately 1,500 hectares of land in the Mutsu-Ogawara area remain undeveloped and hold growth potential. He also told reporters that Rokkasho Village has the foundational conditions for everything from experimental research to commercial deployment.

Shuhei Higashi, Vice President of Starlight Engine, noted that the Rokkasho Fusion Energy Research Institute, operated by Japan's National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), is already established in Rokkasho Village, which is a significant advantage for Aomori Prefecture. For the nuclear fusion demonstration project, in addition to the main facility, multiple ancillary factories and experimental facilities may be required, making larger available land areas more attractive for site selection.

The meeting that day was attended by representatives from industry, government, academia, and the financial sector, with executives from multiple nuclear fusion-related startups also present. Kazuki Matsuo, CEO of EX-Fusion, an Osaka-based nuclear fusion company, stated that even if related equipment is manufactured in other regions, consideration could be given to consolidating equipment production in Aomori Prefecture and conducting power generation demonstrations locally. Aomori Prefecture had already proposed a strategy in March of this year aimed at attracting nuclear fusion power generation demonstration facilities and prototype reactors, positioning the region as a key hub in the nuclear fusion field.