CORDIS focus 97. 3 NOVEMBER 1997

Directorate-General For The Information Society And Media

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ISSN 1022-6559 3 November 1997 The contents of this bulletin are based on RTD-News, updated every day, and other CORDIS databases THE FUTURE OF NUCLEAR FUSION RESEARCH IN EUROPE Commission presents options for fusion research The European Commission has prepared a paper outlining imaginable scenarios for the future of European research into the development of nuclear fusion as an energy source. The paper, produced as a contribution to the debate on the Fifth RTD Framework Programme, was reciuested by the Council in May 1997. It outlines six scenarios, with estimated costs, ranging from stopping research at European level, through continuing at the current level, to stepping up efforts in Europe independently of Japan, Russia and the USA. The harnessing of fusion holds out the promise of potentially safe and clean energy, with virtually inexhaustible fuel resources. However, as a commercial power source fusion energy is still decades away, and therefore the bulk of the costs of its develop­ment must be borne by public authorities. Currently, the Community's Fusion programme brings together all fusion research in the EU and Switzerland, with the long­term goal of "the joint construction of prototype reactors". European expenditure on fusion research amounts to almost ECU 500 million per year during the Fourth Framework Programme (1994­1998), of which the Community budget accounts for about 40%.

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• Marketing et communication

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• Publié par: DIRECTORATE-GENERAL-FOR-THE-INFORMATION-SOCIETY-AND-MEDIA
• Nombre de lectures: 9
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 7 Mo

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