Skip to main content
European Commission logo print header

Programme Category

Programm
Inhalt archiviert am 2023-03-27

Article available in the following languages:

EN

Research and training programme (Euratom) in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion, 1985-1989

 
Part of the first Framework programme (1984-1987) under objective 4: "Improving the management of energy resources", this ninth Community Fusion programme was carried out in accordance with the rules established by the Euratom Treaty (Art. 7) and as part of a long-term cooperative effort embracing all activities undertaken in the Member States in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion. It was designed to lead in due course to the joint construction of prototypes with a view to their industrial production and marketing.

Beginning with the 1976-1980 programme the Council adopted the principle of the "sliding" programme whereby a new five-year Fusion programme is adopted every three years. Thus the first two years of the new programme coincide with the last two years of the previous programme. Authorized appropriations not used in the programme are carried over into the next.
To continue exploitation of the Joint European Torus (JET) and other Tokamaks, to pursue the definition and predesign of the Next European Torus (NET), to investigate alternative confinement systems, such as reverse field pinches and stellarators, and to determine whether nuclear fusion can supply competitively priced energy.
- Plasma physics, in particular studies of a basic character relating to confinement with suitable devices and to methods for producing and heating plasma;
- Research into confinement, in closed configurations, of plasma of widely varying density and temperature;
- Research into light-matter interactions and transport phenomena and the development of high-power lasers;
- Development and application to confinement devices of sufficiently powerful plasma heating methods;
- Improvement of diagnostic methods;
- Definition and predesign of NET (Next European Torus), and technology developments required for its design and construction as well as those needed in the longer term for the fusion reactor;
- Extension of the JET device to full performance, and operation and exploitation of JET.
The Commission, assisted by the Consultative Committee of the Fusion Programme (CCFP), was responsible for implementing the programme. The CCFP was assisted by two subcommittees: the Programme Committee (PC) for physics questions, and the Fusion Technology Steering Committee (FTSC) for NET and technology.

Implementation of the Joint European Torus (JET) project was entrusted to the JET Joint Undertaking, established for a period of twelve years from 1 June 1978 by Council Decision 78/471/Euratom (Official Journal No L 151 of 7.6.1978). Responsibility for the Joint Undertaking was vested in the JET Council (assisted by the JET Executive Committee and the JET Scientific Council) and in the Director of the JET Project. A multilateral agreement on NET (Next European Torus) was concluded.

Other projects were carried out by means of association or limited duration contracts designed to yield the results necessary for implementation of the programme and which took into consideration work carried out by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), in particular in relation to the definition and prestudy of NET and technological developments required for its design and construction as well as those needed in the longer term for the fusion reactor.

The Commission, in consultation with the CCFP, was authorized to finance at a uniform rate of approximately 45% projects belonging to one of the following areas:
- Tokamak systems and support for JET;
- Other toroidal machines;
- Heating and injection;
- Next Step and fusion technology.

In the case of projects carried out by industry in the latter two areas, the Commission was authorized to finance them at a rate of 100%. In return, all associates involved in the programme had the right to take part in experiments carried out with the equipment thus constructed.

The operational costs of the NET team were financed at a rate of approximately 75%.

The funds estimated as being necessary for the execution of the programme amounted to ECU 690 million, including the unused amounts from the previous programme.

The Commission reviewed the programme in its second year and proposed a new five-year programme starting on 1 January 1988.