Fusion Energy – FAQSeppo Karttunen – personal views

• Is fusion safe?• Radioactive waste in fusion? • Some further remarks• Fusion versus fission• Cost of fusion energy?• Fusion energy – when?

Seppo Karttunen, "Fusion Energy - FQA", Euratom-Tekes Annual Seminar 2012, Tartu, Estonia

Is fusion safe?

Yes, fusion is inherently safe - no power runaway, low after-heat, no greenhouse gas emissions, just He but …..• Tritium issues

- T-breeding, fuel cycle & T-handling- T contamination, dust- T cleaning- neutron activation

• Magnets, power sources, …

Seppo Karttunen, "Fusion Energy - FQA", Euratom-Tekes Annual Seminar 2012, Tartu, Estonia

Radioactive waste in fusion?

Fusion process does not produce radioactivity - He is stable - Fusion neutrons may activate in-vessel materials- huge amount of waste (activated structures)

Waste issue is not inherent for fusion but rather a material question- ITER grade SS is horrible- Eurofer and ODS SS development for DEMO- SS recycling time 100 – 1000 years ???

Seppo Karttunen, "Fusion Energy - FQA", Euratom-Tekes Annual Seminar 2012, Tartu, Estonia

Some further remarks

Structural materials – a though mission- 150 dpa (ITER ~ a few dpa, DEMO ~ 50 dpa)- He production -> swelling (> 5 MeV neutrons)- low /short lived activation – recycling after 100 y

Helium is not forever!- Helium for SC magnets extracted from natural gas- Gas is not forever, but rather for next 50-100 y- Development of high temperature SC magnets needed

Seppo Karttunen, "Fusion Energy - FQA", Euratom-Tekes Annual Seminar 2012, Tartu, Estonia

Neutron loading

Seppo Karttunen, "Fusion Energy - FQA", Euratom-Tekes Annual Seminar 2012, Tartu, Estonia

Fusion versus Fission

Very much a national issue- In Germany fusion community wants to make a clear difference between fusion and fission - ”plasma” fusion rather than ”nuclear” fusion- for greens both fusion and fission are bad

- In France (Finland) we try to support fission as a good Carbon free energy option- Fusion is the ultimate form of nuclear energy which replaces fission gradually in next 100-200 years- fusion versus breeders may be an issue

Seppo Karttunen, "Fusion Energy - FQA", Euratom-Tekes Annual Seminar 2012, Tartu, Estonia

Cost of fusion energy?

• Definitely more expensive than present fossil fuels and nuclear but likely cheaper than solar electricity

• High capital cost may pose a problem• Cost of fusion energy very sensitive to availability

Energy markets after 2050 is probably very different from the current situation as fossil fuels are exhausting and getting more expensive

• Fusion may well be competative

Seppo Karttunen, "Fusion Energy - FQA", Euratom-Tekes Annual Seminar 2012, Tartu, Estonia

Fusion energy - when?”Famous 50 years”

Three scenarios: disaster, pessimistic and optimistic

• Disaster: ITER fails, fusion research returns back to Universities to look for alternative approaches• Pessimistic: ITER meets its goals but delays, DEMO

start operation late 2050s producing some electricity• Optimistic: ITER meets its objectives in schedule,

DEMO starts early 2040s with electricity late 2040s.• Commercial fusion earliest 15-20 years after DEMO

success.

Seppo Karttunen, "Fusion Energy - FQA", Euratom-Tekes Annual Seminar 2012, Tartu, Estonia

Lev Artsimovich:

"When the mankind needs it – or maybe a short time before that."

Seppo Karttunen, "Fusion Energy - FQA", Euratom-Tekes Annual Seminar 2012, Tartu, Estonia