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Toward a Credible EU Roadmap for Fusion

Toward a Credible EU Roadmap for Fusion. International Workshop on MFE Roadmapping in the ITER Era Princeton University, 7 -10 September 2011 D. Maisonnier European Commission, DG Research and Innovation. 1. Why a Fusion Development Roadmap? 2. Long-term objectives of Fusion Development

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Toward a Credible EU Roadmap for Fusion

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  1. Toward a Credible EU Roadmap for Fusion International Workshop on MFE Roadmapping in the ITER Era Princeton University, 7 -10 September 2011 D. Maisonnier European Commission, DG Research and Innovation

  2. 1. Why a Fusion Development Roadmap? • 2. Long-term objectives of Fusion Development • 3. Medium-term objectives of Fusion Development • 4. Discussion topics • 5. Conclusion

  3. Previous Fusion Roadmaps in Europe • 1990 (Colombo) • 1984 (Palumbo)

  4. Previous Fusion Roadmaps in Europe (cont’d) • 1996 (Barabaschi) • 2007 (Maisonnier) • 2000 (Airaghi)

  5. Previous Fusion Roadmaps in Europe (cont’d) • These roadmaps were elaborated for a variety of purposes (review, programmatic, gap analysis…). • The scope was always to provide an overview of the complete fusion development programme, in order to define the medium terms objectives: 1984 setting up of the NET team, 1990 start of ITER CDA, 1996 and 2000 support for ITER construction. • Today, Europe is in the process of defining its next framework programme, called “Horizon 2020”, which will cover the period 2014-2020.

  6. The present context • The realisation of fusion as a viable energy source is part of the long term EU vision of 2050. • The European Commission has elaborated the “Innovation Union” flagship initiative, outlining a a strategic approach to innovation, focusing on societal challenges such as energy security. • One of the priorities is to extend Europe’s leadership in selected energy technologies, including fusion. • In June this year, President Barroso proposed to allocate 80B€ to research and innovation during 2014-2020, a significant increase over the 54B€ allocated for 2007-2013.

  7. The present context (cont’d) • Several exercises are currently in progress: • Independent review of the possible JET contributions in the future • Outline of a “strategic orientation” of the EU fusion programme • Definition of possible (resource loaded) roadmaps till 2020 • Independent review of the “strategic orientation” • In this talk I will present some of the key issues being currently debated in Europe in order to define our 2014-2020 framework programme. • Keep in mind that the discussion is still in progress.

  8. 1. Why a Fusion Development Roadmap? • 2. Long-term objectives of Fusion Development • 3. Medium-term objectives of Fusion Development • 4. Discussion topics • 5. Conclusion

  9. Long-term Objective • The ultimate goal of the EU fusion Research programme is to develop the knowledge base required to build the first Fusion Power Plant (FPP). • This ultimate goal is the same since at least 3 decades. Although the EU fusion programme has been primarily a research programme in the past, the “energy orientation” shall become predominant in the future following the decision to build ITER. • The scope of this programme will be the development and thequalification all components and processes required to build the first FPP. • Moreover, we plan to achieve this goal with only one major facility to be built after ITER – and a suitable accompanying programme, which we call DEMO.

  10. DEMO • Significant work is still required to develop and to qualify the components and processes required to build the first FPP. Detailed gap-analysis have been carried out in 2009-2010, at least in the EU and in the US, with similar conclusions – see detailed presentations in the “technology sessions”. • A number of choices will have to be made before freezing the design of the next major facility(ies) after ITER, whether a CTF, a Pilot Plant, a DEMO, or else: • Reference plasma scenario  CD requirements, power handling (divertor) • Coolant for in-vessel components  breeding blanket concept • Maintenance scheme  plant architecture • Structural and functional materials • The validation of some of these choices will only be achieved in ITER, and the construction of DEMO will only start after this validation.

  11. Between DEMO and the first FPP • DEMO and its accompanying programme will have to close all gaps between the knowledge acquired with ITER and the one required to build the first FPP. • If the DEMO facility does not allow to close a specific gap, it will have to be addressed in its accompanying programme. It is therefore essential to identify which gaps can only be tackled by the DEMO facility.

  12. 1. Why a Fusion Development Roadmap? • 2. Long-term objectives of Fusion Development • 3. Medium-term objectives of Fusion Development • 4. Discussion topics • 5. Conclusion

  13. Construct ITER within scope, schedule and cost • It is essential for fusion to regain credibility and this process must start with the construction of ITER within scope, schedule, and cost. • It is the main responsibility of the Domestic Agencies, and this objective will not be further discussed in this talk.

  14. Secure the success of future ITER operation • Technical • Further develop operational scenarios to ensure rapid and efficient start-up of ITER, which will require the operation of some existing facilities; the main facility in Europe foreseen to achieve this objective is JET. • Develop predictive modelling tools. • Financial • Protect our investment by minimising the chances of unexpected technical problems. • People • Training of the “ITER generation”, i.e. prepare (i) a cadre of experienced machine operators and scientists to exploit ITER and (ii) experienced engineers to finalise the DEMO design.

  15. Secure the success of future ITER operation(cont’d) • Although this objective is self-evident, it is not certain that the activities in progress are optimised in this respect: • In Europe, we decided in 2005 to focus JET operation on points of direct relevance for ITER. A major 15 months shutdown was completed in April 2011 to install an “ITER-like wall” and to implement a series of upgrades (increased NBI power, high-frequency pellet injector, improved plasma control and diagnostics). A 2MW plasma was achieved in this new configuration about 2 weeks ago. • Operating ITER, however, will require efficient collaboration between all ITER partners, and setting up an experienced team to do so will take years. This objective is not being addressed today.

  16. Lay the foundations for FPPs • Develop long pulse / steady state scenarios. • Develop a scheme for heat and particle exhaust. • Explore the potential of alternative configurations to ITER (stellarators, …). • Qualify materials. • Pre-conceptual design activities: • Main purpose of this work: to define and to steer DEMO-relevant R&D. • Answer the questions: what is exactly DEMO, and when do we need to start its construction?

  17. 1. Why a Fusion Development Roadmap? • 2. Long-term objectives of Fusion Development • 3. Medium-term objectives of Fusion Development • 4. Discussion topics • 5. Conclusion

  18. Topics for discussion • Our on-going considerations on the fusion roadmap allow to put more emphasis than before on two specific points. • Firstly, how to build up the future team that will operate and exploit ITER? • How will ITER operate? “Users’ facility” or “centralised team”? • How do we train future ITER scientists and operators? On existing machines within the framework of an ad-hoc cooperation scheme? • We believe that JET should be part of these machines because of its unique features (ITER-like wall, DT operation).

  19. Topics for discussion (cont’d) • Secondly, we need the definite precisely of the programmatic objectives of DEMO and of its accompanying programme. • To do so, we need to answer the following question: will there be only one DEMO†, or several DEMO’s, or several “next step” facilities? • I believe we should seriously consider a scenario where more than one device will be build. • Commercial considerations will make international collaboration more difficult to finalise than it has been the case for ITER, but there will be more to gain than to loose to establish a collaboration scheme between the Parties planning to build a “next step” facility. • (†) excluding facilities for the qualification of materials

  20. Topics for discussion (cont’d) • There is, today, a divergence of opinion on how to bridge the gap between ITER and the first FPP. • EU (and JA?): DEMO and IFMIF; • US: CTF or a Pilot Plant and no dedicated materials test facility. R. Goldston (IAEA TM, June 2011)

  21. 1. Why a Fusion Development Roadmap? • 2. Long-term objectives of Fusion Development • 3. Medium-term objectives of Fusion Development • 4. Discussion topics • 5. Conclusion

  22. Conclusion • The EU is currently developing a new fusion roadmap. • The focus is to define the framework programme 2014-2020. • The fusion roadmap should aim at: • Regain credibility for fusion. • Ensure the success of ITER: • ITER construction within scope schedule and cost; • Start building up the team of future ITER operators and scientists, possibly within the framework of an international collaboration scheme. • Clarify the programmatic objectives of DEMO. • Consider a “multi-DEMO“ scenario.

  23. Thank you for your attention

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