FPN11-48
News from Europe
September 2, 2011
A meeting of over 70 experts from fusion centers, industry and the
European Commissionwas held in May in Garching, Germany in order to mark the
start of pre-conceptual design for a fusion power plant. A Department
for Power Plant Physics and Technology has been set up there under the
direction of Gianfranco Federici. Federici said, 'We must take on a more
system-oriented and integrated approach instead of concentrating on
detailed component design." Serge Paidassi, from the European
Commission, said "Ideally we would start constructing Demo in 2030 and
have it up and running in 2040. This is a very ambitious goal. It would
then be possible to implement operation of a commercial power plant by
2050." Paidassi also said, 'If you do not involve industry early enough
in the process you may develop concepts, ideas, and designs that are not
fit for industrial realization." The Thales Group, Siemans, Ansaldo and
Areva were among the industries participating in the meeting. Federici
can be contacted at Gianfranco.Federici@efda.org
Final installations and checks on the upgraded JET facility began in May
and preparations for renewed operation continued over the Summer.
Preparation for experimental operations will continue throughout the
Fall in a systematic fashion.
As part of the EU-Japan "Broader Approach Agreement" the EU is
collaborating on plans for operations of the new JT-60SA tokamak under
construction in Japan. The JT60SA is similar in size to JET, which is
currently the largest fusion device in the world, but will have
superconducting magnets.
For further details and information on the EU program, visit
http://www.jet.efda.org/multimedia/newsletter/