WORLD POWER ENERGETICS - FUSION-REACTORS - ITER PROJECT

The prospects of various energy sources have to be evaluated on the ba sis of economical, energy and political factors, and ecological conseq uences. The gradual replacement of energy technologies based on burnin g of fossil fuels by the new 'clean' ones not yielding greenhouse gase s is called for so as to conserve the atmosphere at least in the prese nt state. From this point, one of the most promising energy technologi es is controlled fusion. Today, we are in the stage of transition from proof-of-principle plasma physics experiments to practical realizatio n of this concept. The place of future fusion power reactors in the gl obal energy system is being discussed widely. In 1985, the Government Agreement on the design of the International Thermonuclear Experimenta l Reactor (ITER) was signed by Russia, Japan, the European Community, and the United States of America. That was the starting point of this enormous project; and now we are in the second phase, i.e. the Enginee ring Design Activities, to be completed by 1998. The focal point for d esign is the Joint Central Team, with about 200 scientists and enginee rs from Russia, Japan, the European Community, and the USA working joi ntly. The national Home Teams provide strong support for the design an d research and development programs on the basis of equal contribution s to the Project. One of the key problems to be solved concerns fusion reactor materials, including the creation of a complete database on a ppropriate materials irradiated up to a neutron fluence of 10(23) n . Cm-2, the development of new alloys and relevant engineering technolog ies.