Broader approach to fusion energy

The European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) and the Japanese government signed an agreement for ''the Joint Implementation of the Broader Approach Activities in the Field of Fusion Energy Research'' on 5th February 2007. The Agreement is expected to enter into force before the end of this year. This co-operation aims at complementing the ITER project and at an early realization of fusion energy by carrying out R and D and developing some advanced technologies for the future demonstration power reactor (DEMO). Three research projects will be undertaken in Japan under the framework of this agreement; 1. Engineering Validation and Engineering Design Activities for the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF/EVEDA). IFMIF will allow testing and qualification of advanced materials in an environment similar to that of a future fusion power plant. The Engineering Validation and Engineering Design Activities aim at producing a detailed, complete and fully integrated engineering design of IFMIF. 2. International Fusion Energy Research Centre (IFERC). The missions of the IFERC include the co-ordination of DEMO Design and R and D activities, large scale simulation activities of fusion plasmas by super-computer and remote experimentation activities to facilitate a broad participation of scientists into ITER experiments. 3. Satellite Tokamak Programme The JT-60 tokamak will be upgraded to an advanced superconducting tokamak JT-60 SA, and be exploited as a ''satellite'' facility to ITER. The Satellite Tokamak Programme is expected to develop operating scenarios and address key physics issues for an efficient start up of ITER and in order to provide a continuous support to ITER experimentation and to advance research towards DEMO. While the Satellite Tokamak Programme will be conducted at the existing JT-60 tokamak site in Naka, the IFMIF-EVEDA and the IFERC projects will be carried out at Rokkasho, Aomori. A new research site is being prepared for these two projects at the same site proposed for ITER. The construction of the buildings is to be started during this year and completed within two years. Preparatory work has been started such as the joint planning on the IFERC and the IFMIF-EVEDA, and the technical review of the conceptual design of JT- 60SA. As soon as the Agreement will be in force, EURATOM and Japan will adopt the project plans for the three projects to be able to implement them without delay. (orig.)