Japan and EURATOM partnership for joint implementation of fusion energy research

This so-called “Broader Approach” materialises the privileged partnership of Japan and EURATOM in the field of fusion energy research. Japan and EURATOM will work together on three individual projects under this Agreement to accelerate the realisation of fusion energy as a clean and sustainable energy source for the 21st century. The Agreement will have a duration of ten years.

The signature of this Agreement marks another milestone in the strong cooperation between Japan and EURATOM in the field of fusion energy research. This co-operation aims at complementing the ITER Project, the international project on fusion energy at an early realisation of fusion energy for peaceful purposes, by carrying out R&D and developing some advanced technologies for the future demonstration power reactor (DEMO).

Welcoming the signature of the Agreement, the Director General Nominee of the ITER Organization, Mr Kaname Ikeda said: “ITER and the Broader Approach, together with the current level of fusion research being undertaken world-wide, represent a big step towards the realisation of fusion power”.

The three large research projects will be undertaken in Japan under the framework of this Agreement. These projects are closely related to the implementation of the ITER Project and will be on a time frame compatible with the ITER construction phase. The first two projects will be carried out at Rokkasho, Aomori and the third project will be carried out at Naka, Ibaraki. The participation in each research project will be open to the other ITER Parties.

1. Engineering Validation and Engineering Design Activities for the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF/EVEDA).

The future realisation of fusion energy will require materials which have endurance and show low radioactivity against the exposure to the harsh thermal and irradiation conditions inside a fusion reactor. IFMIF will allow testing and qualification of advanced materials in the environment conditions of a future fusion power reactor. The Engineering Validation and Design Activities aim at producing a detailed, complete and fully integrated engineering design of IFMIF.

2. International Fusion Energy Research Centre (IFERC).

IFERC consists of activities on DEMO design R&D, Computational Simulation and ITER Remote Experimentation towards the realisation of DEMO.

3. Satellite Tokamak Programme

The JT-60 tokamak will be upgraded to an advanced superconducting tokamak JT-60 SA, and be exploited under the framework of this Agreement as a “satellite” facility to ITER. The Satellite Tokamak Programme is expected to develop operating scenarios and address key physics issues for an efficient start up of ITER experimentation and for research towards DEMO.