29 Jun (NucNet): The headquarters of a new organisation that will have a budget of four billion euros (EUR) (5.4 billion US dollars) for the first 10 years to procure components for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) have been inaugurated in Barcelona, Spain.
European Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Potocnik said the Fusion for Energy centre will allow Europe to contribute to ITER in a rapid, organised and effective way.
The aim of ITER is to develop fusion energy with the objective of bringing it closer to commercial use.The ITER initiative involves seven parties – the European Union, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, India and the US.
ITER will be constructed near Cadarache in southern France and each of the seven parties has agreed to work together with their own industry and research organisations to develop and construct the various components for the reactor.
Europe, as the party hosting ITER, will contribute around half of the components. It is the task of Fusion for Energy to organise these contributions.
Fusion for Energy will also work with Japan on a number of projects to accelerate the development of fusion energy.
In November 2006, the EU and Japan agreed a “broader approach" to fusion energy, creating a privileged partnership complementing ITER.
The EU and Japan will work together on projects, in particular the design of a high-tech materials testing facility, which will complement ITER research and set the basis for the construction of a future demonstration fusion power plant. The agreement lasts 10 years, and represents about EUR 340 million of European investment.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
New Spanish-Based Organisation To Administer EU Contribution To ITER (World Nuclear Review No. 34, 25 August 2006)
ITER On Target To Submit Safety Report (News in Brief No. 8, 3 May 2007)
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