Evening Lecture – ITER: A Key Step Towards Fusion Power

In a first part, the main principles of thermonuclear fusion and the potentialities offered by fusion as a power source will be presented. Fusion offers indeed a number of features (availability of fuel; limited risks) which are so attractive that it justifies the significant development effort which is presently being made.
The challenges posed by fusion power R&D will then be addressed, in particular the need to develop radiation resistant low activation material, tritium breeding technology etc. An ambitious program has been set-up in Europe to engage the first preparatory steps towards a power demonstration reactor which should follow the ITER program.
Finally, the key role and the status of the ITER project will be presented. ITER is an experimental device aiming at demonstrating the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion as an environmentally friendly power source. The facility is being constructed in the frame of an unprecedented international collaboration involving the European Union, China, India, Japan, Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA. The construction site is located at Cadarache in southern France.