EUROfusion Press Release
Garching, Germany, 30 April 2024
Following the recent announcement by the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) regarding the significant milestones achieved at the ELISE experimental testing facility, EUROfusion wishes to extend congratulations and highlight its ongoing support and involvement in this critical research.
The ELISE facility, a central piece in the development of neutral particle heating for ITER, has successfully demonstrated ion current densities essential for ITER’s Neutral Beam Injector (NBI). These developments are vital as ITER aims to harness nuclear fusion’s potential, replicating the process powering the sun to produce clean and sustainable energy on Earth.
EUROfusion, as part of its commitment to the ITER project, has been instrumental in supporting these efforts. Ambrogio Fasoli, Programme Manager for EUROfusion, notes, “This important achievement increases our confidence that the developments towards a high power, high energy neutral beam system for ITER will lead to a successful outcome, providing one of the main sources for heating ITER plasmas to reactor-relevant temperatures.”
EUROfusion’s involvement extends beyond financial contributions, as detailed by Xavier Litaudon, the EUROfusion Work Package Leader for Preparation of ITER Operation (PrIO). “Our consortium provides not only funding but also crucial human resources and technical expertise to both ELISE and the broader ITER Neutral Beam Injector project,” says Litaudon. “We are currently contributing six full-time professionals to the ELISE facility and fourteen to the ITER Neutral Beam Test Facility (NBTF). Our efforts are pivotal in developing the necessary technology and in training the next generation of researchers. These initiatives are essential for the long-term success and operational stability of ITER’s Neutral Beam Injection system.”
Furthermore, EUROfusion’s Operations Network, initiated in 2021, has played a significant role in enhancing the collaborative efforts across Europe, Japan, and the International Organization (IO) involved in ITER. Regular seminars and workshops have facilitated a robust exchange of knowledge and technical skills essential for advancing NBI technology.
The achievements at ELISE and the ongoing contributions by EUROfusion are not only milestones in the field of fusion energy but also significant steps toward achieving ITER’s ambitious goals.
EUROfusion is committed to ensuring that Europe is at the forefront of fusion technology and research. It is fully supporting ITER, whose construction and preparation for operation are commencing at full speed in southern France.
Links to the Press Release from Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics:
English version: https://www.ipp.mpg.de/5421304/elise_rekord_2024
German version: https://www.ipp.mpg.de/5421142/elise_rekord_2024
Other Reference Articles and Papers:
18 March 2019 – ITER: How ELISE is contributing to ITER
27 February 2015 – Max Planck IPP: IPP’s ELISE test rig gains world record; Heating facility for the ITER fusion reactor / high-energy particle beam of record quality
October 2013 – Fusion Engineering and Design: Negative ion test facility ELISE—Status and first results
13 December 2012 – Fusion for Energy: World’s largest test facility for negative ion sources opens to develop heating for ITER
– ENDS –
Media Contacts
EUROfusion – the European Consortium for the Development of Fusion Energy
Gieljan de Vries and Karl Tischler – media@euro-fusion.org
Max Planck Institute of Plasma Physics, IPP, Garching and Greifswald
Frank Fleschner – frank.fleschner@ipp.mpg.de or +49 8932 994 123
NOTES
Fusion energy’s potential
Fusion, the process that powers stars like our sun, promises a clean baseload source of heat and electricity for the long term, using small amounts of fuel that can be sourced worldwide from inexpensive materials.
When a mix of two forms of hydrogen (deuterium and tritium) is heated to form a controlled plasma at extreme temperatures – 10 times hotter than the core of the Sun – they fuse together to create helium and release energy which can be harnessed to produce electricity.
Deuterium and tritium are two heavier variants of ordinary hydrogen and together offer the highest reactivity of all fusion fuels. At a temperature of 150 million degrees Celsius, deuterium and tritium fuse together to form helium and release a tremendous amount of heat energy without any greenhouse contributions. Fusion is inherently safe in that it cannot start a run-away process and produces no long-lived waste.
There is more than one way of achieving fusion. Our approach is to hold the hot plasma using strong magnets in a ring-shaped machine called a ‘tokamak’, and then to harness this heat to produce electricity in a similar way to existing power stations.
About EUROfusion
EUROfusion, the European Consortium for the Development of Fusion Energy, is at the forefront of advancing fusion technology with the goal of establishing fusion as a safe, sustainable, and economically viable source of energy. It champions the pursuit of fusion as a large-scale, sustainable energy source through its coordination of Europe’s fusion research activities.
Operating under the Euratom Research and Training Programme, EUROfusion advances fusion technology and research across eight key missions, as detailed in the European Fusion Research Roadmap. The programme is dedicated to paving the way for fusion power plants, leveraging collaborative research and innovation to overcome the technical and scientific challenges of harnessing fusion energy. This effort is epitomized by EUROfusion’s joint and very successful exploitation of fusion experimental machines across Europe as well as the future JT-60SA facility in Naka, Japan, showcasing a unique and concrete contribution to fusion science. This includes preparation for the scientific exploitation of ITER, as well as laying the technological groundwork for DEMO, the planned demonstration fusion power plant.
EUROfusion’s commitment extends to fostering the next generation of European fusion researchers, ensuring a skilled workforce for ITER and future machines. By integrating efforts across 195 research entities in 29 European countries, EUROfusion is actively shaping the future of energy, emphasizing safety, sustainability, and economic viability in fusion technology.
For more insights into our mission and progress, visit our website and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (Twitter).
About Euratom
The Euratom Research and Training Programme (2021-2025) is a complementary funding programme to the EU Horizon Europe Programme. It is dedicated to nuclear research and innovation in fission and fusion. The Euratom Programme includes both direct actions undertaken by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, and indirect actions conducted by multi-partner consortia. One example is EUROfusion, responsible for implementing Europe-wide fusion research.
With a budget of €1.38 billion for the period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2025, the Euratom Research and Training Programme is focused on the continuous improvement of nuclear safety, security, and radiation protection, as well as fusion energy research. €583 million is dedicated to indirect actions on fusion research and development.
For more information: Euratom Research and Training Programme
Social Media: @EUScienceInnov
