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| States sign nuclear energy pact | States sign nuclear energy pact |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| An international consortium has signed a formal agreement to build an experimental nuclear fusion reactor. | An international consortium has signed a formal agreement to build an experimental nuclear fusion reactor. |
| The multi-billion-euro project known as Iter - or "the way" in Latin - will aim to produce energy from nuclear reactions like those that fuel the Sun. | The multi-billion-euro project known as Iter - or "the way" in Latin - will aim to produce energy from nuclear reactions like those that fuel the Sun. |
| If successful, it could provide energy that is both clean and limitless. | If successful, it could provide energy that is both clean and limitless. |
| The project, which will be based in France, follows years of talks between South Korea, Russia, China, the EU, the US, India and Japan. | The project, which will be based in France, follows years of talks between South Korea, Russia, China, the EU, the US, India and Japan. |
| If all goes well, officials will build a demonstration power plant before rolling out the technology to the world. Iter says electricity could be available on the grid within 30 years. | If all goes well, officials will build a demonstration power plant before rolling out the technology to the world. Iter says electricity could be available on the grid within 30 years. |
| Big reward | Big reward |
| "Fusion could become the dominant source of electricity on Earth in a century or so - we have to work to try to get it," Jerome Pamela of Iter told the BBC. | "Fusion could become the dominant source of electricity on Earth in a century or so - we have to work to try to get it," Jerome Pamela of Iter told the BBC. |
| Fusion: Necessary investment "Not doing so would be irresponsible because the outcome could be huge, great for humanity," he said, adding that it was nonetheless a "very, very demanding challenge" to essentially imitate the work of the Sun on Earth. | Fusion: Necessary investment "Not doing so would be irresponsible because the outcome could be huge, great for humanity," he said, adding that it was nonetheless a "very, very demanding challenge" to essentially imitate the work of the Sun on Earth. |
| In a fusion reaction, energy is released when light atomic nuclei - the hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium - are fused together to form heavier atomic nuclei. | In a fusion reaction, energy is released when light atomic nuclei - the hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium - are fused together to form heavier atomic nuclei. |
| To use controlled fusion reactions on Earth as an energy source, it is necessary to heat a gas to temperatures exceeding 100 million Celsius - many times hotter than the centre of the Sun. | To use controlled fusion reactions on Earth as an energy source, it is necessary to heat a gas to temperatures exceeding 100 million Celsius - many times hotter than the centre of the Sun. |
| Isn't the money that's being spent on fusion better spent on proven technologies rather than chasing a dream? Roger Higman, Friends of the Earth The technical requirements to do this, which scientists have spent decades developing, are immense; but the rewards, if Iter can be made to work successfully, are extremely attractive. | Isn't the money that's being spent on fusion better spent on proven technologies rather than chasing a dream? Roger Higman, Friends of the Earth The technical requirements to do this, which scientists have spent decades developing, are immense; but the rewards, if Iter can be made to work successfully, are extremely attractive. |
| One of the attractions of fusion is the tiny amount of fuel needed. The release of energy from a fusion reaction is said to be 10 million times greater than from a typical chemical reaction, such as burning a fossil fuel. | One of the attractions of fusion is the tiny amount of fuel needed. The release of energy from a fusion reaction is said to be 10 million times greater than from a typical chemical reaction, such as burning a fossil fuel. |
| Lead partner | Lead partner |
| The project is based in Cadarache, about 60km (40 miles) from Marseille in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region. It currently hosts Tore-Supra, one of the existing European centres for fusion research. | The project is based in Cadarache, about 60km (40 miles) from Marseille in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region. It currently hosts Tore-Supra, one of the existing European centres for fusion research. |
| ITER - NUCLEAR FUSION PROJECT The reactor is built in the shape of a doughnut Project estimated to cost 10bn euros and will run for 35 yearsIt will produce the first sustained fusion reactionsFinal stage before full prototype of commercial reactor is built | ITER - NUCLEAR FUSION PROJECT The reactor is built in the shape of a doughnut Project estimated to cost 10bn euros and will run for 35 yearsIt will produce the first sustained fusion reactionsFinal stage before full prototype of commercial reactor is built |
| Work to clear a wooded area for the Iter buildings will begin in the spring. Ancillary and power facilities and a visitors' centre will go up in 2008. The reactor itself will start to take shape in 2009. | Work to clear a wooded area for the Iter buildings will begin in the spring. Ancillary and power facilities and a visitors' centre will go up in 2008. The reactor itself will start to take shape in 2009. |
| The French site was chosen after a long period of bartering between the Iter parties; and the EU, as the host bloc, is shouldering 50% of the five-billion-euro construction costs. | The French site was chosen after a long period of bartering between the Iter parties; and the EU, as the host bloc, is shouldering 50% of the five-billion-euro construction costs. |
| The deal signed by ministers on Tuesday puts those negotiations into effect, establishing the international organisation that will implement the Iter fusion energy project | The deal signed by ministers on Tuesday puts those negotiations into effect, establishing the international organisation that will implement the Iter fusion energy project |
| The signature took place at a ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris, hosted by the president of France, Jacques Chirac, and by the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso. | The signature took place at a ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris, hosted by the president of France, Jacques Chirac, and by the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso. |
| href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/sci_nat_iter___the_next_generation_fusion_reactor/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/sci_nat_iter___the_next_generation_fusion_reactor/html/1.stm', '1164104564', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Iter will produce reactions simliar to those in the Sun href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/sci_nat_iter___the_next_generation_fusion_reactor/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/sci_nat_iter___the_next_generation_fusion_reactor/html/1.stm', '1164104564', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures After the signature ceremony, the first meeting of the Interim Iter Council will take place. | |
| The green lobby is opposed to the Iter project. It believes the benefits have been oversold and the difficulties and waste production issues underplayed. | The green lobby is opposed to the Iter project. It believes the benefits have been oversold and the difficulties and waste production issues underplayed. |
| Roger Higman, policy coordinator for Friends of the Earth, told BBC News: "We face a very real energy crisis over the next 50 years which is to do with climate change; that we have to stop using coal, oil and gas. | Roger Higman, policy coordinator for Friends of the Earth, told BBC News: "We face a very real energy crisis over the next 50 years which is to do with climate change; that we have to stop using coal, oil and gas. |
| "The question we would ask is: isn't the money that's being spent on fusion better spent on proven technologies rather than chasing a dream that even its proponents say will take a hundred years before it's going to providing any of our energy answers?" | "The question we would ask is: isn't the money that's being spent on fusion better spent on proven technologies rather than chasing a dream that even its proponents say will take a hundred years before it's going to providing any of our energy answers?" |