Quantitative analysis of economy and environmental compatibility of tokamak fusion power reactors

The current worth of the economy, energy gain, carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, and waste disposal of tokamak fusion power reactors are quantitatively evaluated compared with other current Japanese energy sources. The following results were obtained : (1) CO2 emission intensity (i.e., CO2 emission per unit kWh) from the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor-Engineering Design Activity (ITER-EDA) scale power reactor (referred to here as the ITER-like reactor), whose physics performance is conventional, can be 25% lower than that of a common household photovoltaic. The energy gain of the ITER-like reactor is comparable to that of a coalfired power plant. The cost is four times higher than that of a fission reactor; however, note that this cost evaluation is based upon FOAK (first-of-a-kind) cost evaluation. (2) The CO2 emission intensities and energy gains of RS and ST reactors are comparable to those of fission reactors. (3) Radioactive waste disposal volume for the ITER-like reactor is similar to that for a fission reactor. We believe that continuing tokamak fusion research and development is worthy, since tokamak fusion is an environmentally compatible future technology. (author)