Socio-economic research

A successful fusion programme must lead to an energy source which is both economically and socially acceptable. As the European Programme approaches ITER, which is the next step towards commercialisation, the societal implications acquire greater importance.

In order to get deeper knowledge on how this new form of energy generation can be integrated in society, EFDA performs since 1996 Socio-Economic Research on Fusion (SERF), in which the expertise of researchers in the physical, engineering, economic, social and environmental sciences is brought together.

The social part of the studies focuses on measuring the public opinion on fusion, collecting relevant sociological knowledge related to the acceptability of fusion as a contribution to a sustainable energy future energy source, and on clarifying ways to contribute to a proper governance of the fusion effort.

The economic part of the studies aim at analysing energy systems, energy markets and technology, studying the dynamics of technological development, and its implications for fusion (dependence of production costs on plant engineering, learning and experience, internalisation of externalities, development of the demands, regulations and policies), and preparing, possibly together with stakeholder of other energy options, fusion relevant sustainable energy scenarios with models that incorporate the 4 E´s: economy, engineering, energy, and environment.

The results of these SERF studies have been published in a number of reports, which can be downloaded here.

System studies

The System Studies group at EFDA addresses issues for future fusion power plants, such as the radiological safety and the environmental impact. As a basis for such questions, the Power Plant Conceptual Studies were conducted, in which four "models" for future power plants were designed, each using different assumptions about physical and technological parameters.

From 1990 onwards, a number of studies have been performed within the European Fusion Programme, examining the safety, environmental and economic potential of fusion power. The basic results for the impact of fusion in terms of safety and environment were obtained in the Safety and Environmental Aspects of Fusion Power (SEAFP, 1995) and Safety and Environmental Aspects Long-term (SEAL) studies. The Safety and Environmental Impact of Fusion (SEIF, 2001) report has added further details and results to these previous investigations.

In the period since the establishment of the plant models developed for these earlier studies, there have been substantial advances in the understanding of fusion plasma physics and of plasma operating regimes, and progresses in the development of materials and technology. Accordingly, it was decided to undertake a more comprehensive and integrated study, updated in the light of our current know-how and understanding, to serve as a better guide for the further evolution of the fusion development programme. This was the Power Plant Conceptual Study (PPCS), of which the final report was released in April 2005. The report can be found here.

The study defines four future fusion power plant models illustrative of a wider range of possibilities, spanning from near-term to very advanced, and addresses questions related to safety and environmental impact, economics, and development needs. It represents a basis which can guide future fusion developments. The study has reviewed the technical concepts that are either already available, or can be foreseen for the most critical components of a fusion power plant: the first wall, the divertor, and the blanket.