Marvel Fusion disputes with city of Penzberg

The start-up wanted to build the world's first nuclear fusion reactor in the city near Munich. But suddenly the start-up is keeping a low profile and the city has set a deadline.

Scientists and companies around the world are working on the commercialization of nuclear fusion. The start-up Marvel Fusion is also trying its hand at this in Germany and announced last year that it wanted to buy an industrial site near Munich in the town of Penzberg. The company wanted to build the reactor there. In January, the city council approved the purchase of the site in Nonnenwald, but Marvel Fusion has been keeping a low profile ever since. Now the city council has set a deadline: The Munich-based energy start-up must formulate a binding purchase interest by March 22, otherwise the decision from January will be withdrawn.

At the beginning of January, the start-up had demanded clarity from the city as to whether the area could be purchased. Prenzberg apparently reacted quickly and is now complaining that the start-up is leaving them stranded. On Monday, Mayor Stefan Korpan from the CSU asked Marvel Fusion, but did not receive a binding statement, reports the Süddeutsche Zeitung.

There are now apparently alternatives on both sides: With the huge media interest surrounding the first fusion reactor, Marvel Fusion was probably offered other locations. However, other companies are now also interested in the Nonnenwald and would like to use the 28,700 square meter site for commercial purposes. Whether the area is used commercially or industrially also has an impact on the purchase price, as industrially used areas have less stringent environmental requirements.