Activities

The EFDA Workplan includes activities and projects that aim at demonstrating in ITER the feasibility of a burning plasma relevant to fusion power plants, and at addressing several advanced technologies, such as superconductive coils, high-heat flux components, remote handling, fuel handling, and waste treatment. Two key feasibility issues for the future Demonstration Reactor (DEMO), namely tritium fuel self-sufficiency and radiation-resistant structural materials with low residual activation, are also addressed.

All these activities are complemented and guided by system studies on fusion power plants, which focus on safety and environmental issues, and socio-economic aspects of fusion. In a number of studies - such as the Socio-Economic Research on Fusion (SERF), and the Safety and Environmental Aspects of Fusion Power (SEAF - these issues have been investigated. The Power Plant Conceptual Studies (PPCS) investigate possibilities for future fusion power stations.

Several fusion devices in the EU have contributed - and are still contributing - to the knowledge base needed for ITER. The Joint European Torus (JET) plays a unique role because the plasma it can produce has the closest similarity to the future plasma in ITER. The joint use of the JET-facilities has provided knowledge on plasma physics and plasma engineering, and has contributed in demonstrating high-performance modes of operation relevant for ITER. JET also contributes in tackling several ITER technology issues, and is used to study advanced remote handling, tritium technology, and plasma-facing materials and components.

All scientific and technical tasks that are performed by the European fusion institutions are carried out under a special framework agreement between EURATOM and its Associates: the JET Implementing Agreement. Under EFDA, such Implementing Agreements can be made for activities in specific areas. The JET facilities are operated by the UKAEA under the JET Operation Contract with EURATOM. The Associates use the JET-facilities by conducting experimental campaigns.