Experimental Fusion Reactor Project Advances in France

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, based in Cadarache, north of Marseille, France, is making significant progress. ITER is a collaborative effort involving China, the European Union (EU), India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the U.S., with the goal of demonstrating the feasibility of nuclear fusion as a large-scale, carbon-free energy source.

Recent developments include the completion of the second European sector of the vacuum vessel, a double-walled structure designed to house the fusion reaction. The vacuum vessel, built by Fusion for Energy (Barcelona, Spain) in collaboration with AMW (Ansaldo Nucleare S.p.A. (Genoa, Italy), Westinghouse (Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania) and Walter Tosto S.p.a. (Chieti, Italy)), ensures a clean fusion environment, free from dust, air and liquid impurities. The vessel's European sectors are being delivered in phases, with the latest unit set to be shipped from Italy to the ITER site in March. The remaining three European sectors are under production and will be delivered in the next two years.

ITER's first plasma operation is expected in 2025, and full deuterium/tritium fusion experiments are planned for 2035.

The project has created approximately 2,000 jobs and is valued at €23.6 billion (US$32.3 billion), with the EU funding 45.6% of the project and other members contributing 9.1% each. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project and Plant databases can click here for the project report and click here for the plant profile.

Industrial info in tracking 28 capital nuclear power projects in France, worth US$98.9 billion. Subscribers can click here for the project reports.

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