The European Commission and the European fusion research laboratories are launching today a
European joint programme on fusion in Horizon2020 –
‘EUROfusion’
– that will ensure significant progress along the path towards the
realisation of fusion energy. This joint programme has an overall budget
of at least 850 million euro over the period 2014-18, of which about
half will come from the Euratom Horizon 2020 fusion energy research
programme.
Vice-President Oettinger responsible for energy said "Fusion has the
potential to become a reliable, safe, non-CO2 emitting and sustainable
energy source. Today's launching of our European Joint Programme on
fusion shows how Europe benefits if we unite our research strength.
EUROfusion provides the framework for Europe to maintain its world
leading position in fusion research: now let's live up to the
challenge."
At the end of 2012, all EU research laboratories agreed a detailed
goal-oriented roadmap to fusion energy by 2050. These same laboratories
have now set up the EUROfusionconsortium and will implement a 5-year
joint programme to address the key scientific and technological
challenges identified in the initial phase of the roadmap. The main
focus during this period will be scientific and technical support to the
International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor – ITER – currently
under construction in France, and ensuring Europe is in a position to
capitalise on the success of this pioneering project. In particular, the
world's largest fusion research infrastructure currently in operation –
JET, the Joint European Torus, situated at Culham, UK – will continue
to be exploited by EUROfusionuntil 2018 and will play a key role in
supporting ITER.
EUROfusionwill also address fundamental issues relating to the next
generation fusion demonstration reactor – DEMO – that will be connected
to the grid and provide a blueprint for the deployment of fusion
reactors across the world, enabling fusion to contribute to meeting the
world's growing energy needs after 2050 alongside renewable energy such
as wind and solar power. In this endeavour, EUROfusionwill continue its
close cooperation with European industry and Fusion for Energy – the
European Agency for ITER.
http://www.neurope.eu/article/europe-gears-make-fusion-energy-reality