FPN10-54

Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith Calls for Apollo-style Fusion Effort

November 7, 2010

From 12-16 September, more than 2100 delegates from all around the world participated in the 21st World Energy Congress (WEC) in Montreal. For the first time, fusion was on the agenda for the Congress. Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith, former Chair of the ITER Council, gave a talk titled "Fusion -- Will it Ever be a Reliable and Competitive Source of Energy?" "We must pursue this option as soon as possible," he said. Calling for an "Apollo-style" approach to fusion, he said, "We should start building the demonstration reactor in parallel with ITER. There is nothing like learning by building. Get on with it and show the world that we can produce energy." He also noted that famous physicist Stephen Hawking, in a recent interview with the Guardian, had called for the need to put more money into fusion research.

For more information, including a video from the World Energy Congress: http://www.iter.org/newsline/148/438