Nuclear fusion finance plan rejected by EU Parliament

In summary, the discussion is about the potential delays or postponement of building ITER due to financial concerns and political pressure. However, it is unlikely that the project will be cancelled as it would involve renegotiating with overseas partners and potentially facing cancellation payments. The costs of the project are divided among member countries, and any cuts in contributions could result in job losses for companies involved. The EU is committed to funding the project, but there may be delays and the loss of some smaller foreign partners. Ultimately, cancelling the project would be more costly and embarrassing than completing it.
  • #1
jemb
11
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12007965"

Can anyone shed any light on this?
Will work on building ITER be delayed or postponed because of this wrangling?

They are talking about absolutely huge amounts of money which is maybe politically unpalatable for many european countries at the moment. The UK especially is hammering everything at the moment.
 
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  • #2
jemb said:
Will work on building ITER be delayed or postponed because of this wrangling?
Unlikely because that would involve renegotiating with all the overseas partners who will all want cancellation payments bigger than their contribution or some other deal to agree.

They are talking about absolutely huge amounts of money which is maybe politically unpalatable for many european countries at the moment.
Generally the costs of these projects are divided up into contracts for each country - so if the UK does cut it's contribution it will mean job cuts at whichever UK companies are supplying parts.
Generally the principle contractor in each member state is some big defence/aerospace company who has a lot of political clout and then individual parts are made by small high tech subcontractors - so if it is canceled there will be some big defence contract to replace it which will cost more.
 
  • #3
So is it a bit of a non story in that the Eu is committed to spend the money. This story is just about whether its on this years or nexts budget?
 
  • #4
There will probably be delays - which might be helpful given some of the technical issues - and they might lose one of the smaller foreign partners.
But it would be a bit too embarrassing to cancel and inevitably end up costing more than it would to complete it.
 

What is nuclear fusion?

Nuclear fusion is a process in which two or more atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy in the process. This is the same process that powers the sun and other stars.

What was the proposed nuclear fusion finance plan?

The proposed plan was a 30-year, €100 billion project to develop and build a nuclear fusion power plant, called ITER, in southern France. This project aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of using nuclear fusion as a source of energy for electricity production.

Why was the finance plan rejected by the EU Parliament?

The finance plan was rejected by the EU Parliament due to concerns about the high cost and long timeline of the project. There were also concerns about the lack of a clear plan for managing potential risks and the potential for cost overruns.

What are the potential benefits of nuclear fusion?

If successfully developed, nuclear fusion could provide a nearly limitless source of clean energy, with minimal impact on the environment. It could also potentially reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and help mitigate climate change.

What are the challenges involved in developing nuclear fusion technology?

Developing nuclear fusion technology is a complex and expensive process. It requires overcoming technical challenges such as containing and controlling the extremely high temperatures and pressures involved in fusion reactions. There are also safety concerns and the potential for nuclear proliferation. Additionally, the technology is still in its early stages and there is no guarantee of success.

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