US Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and European Union (EU) Commissioner for Research Philippe Busquin signed agreements in May to conduct joint research in the areas of fusion energy and non-nuclear energy.
“As our agencies begin this cooperation in non-nuclear science and technology under the 1997 Science & Technology Agreement, we embark on a whole new era of collaboration,” Secretary Abraham said. “This arrangement provides us with an opportunity to pursue alternatives to our mounting energy demands and help secure our needs for the future.”
Areas of cooperation under the agreement may include tokamaks (a doughnut-shaped magnetic confinement design), alternatives to tokamaks, magnetic fusion energy technology, plasma theory, and applied plasma physics. Under the agreement, the US Department of Energy plans to contribute $1.3 million over two years to develop hardware for use at the Joint European Torus (JET) fusion device in the United Kingdom. The hardware will enable JET to enhance its performance and explore new areas of fusion science. Ongoing collaborations include research to improve understanding of the physics of newer, innovative approaches to fusion.
For more information, contact DOE.
