Safety and environment aspects of a fusion power reactor

A fusion power plant possesses not only intrinsic advantages with respect t o safety compared to other sources of energy, but also a negligible long te rm impact on the environment provided certain precautions are taken in its design and in the selection of structural materials. This was studied by th e SEAFP (Safety and Environment Assessment of Fusion Power). Programme and studies for the long term have been pursued in Europe in the Framework of t he SEAFP2 Program. An attempt is made to distinguish the safety options to be integrated into a fusion reactor. A vast range of postulated accidents h ave been analyzed involving parametric studies and special consideration ha s also been given to the waste management. The safety approach is reviewed in the light of the safety principles and nuclear regulatory reference syst em existing at international level. In addition lessons have been learnt fr om the safety analysis performed for ITER. It is confirmed that it is possi ble to fully benefit from the advantages of fusion energy if safety and env ironmental concerns are taken into account when considering the first prosp ective studies of a reactor design. Improvements in this way will need the continuation of R&D on reactor design and materials as well as specific R&D on safety aspects. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.