New EU funding for world’s biggest fusion device at Abingdon - comments by Sharon Bowles MEP
The European Parliament has today voted for the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), a spending plan for the period 2014 - 2020 which will extend new funding to Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE), near Abingdon.
The Centre is home to the European JET experiment, the world's largest and most powerful fusion device, as well as 600 scientists and engineers investigating the potential of fusion power as a safe, clean, and virtually limitless energy source for future generations.
JET is the focal point for the European fusion research programme and the only device in the world that can actually achieve fusion. It is an essential experiment on the route to its international successor ITER (currently being constructed in France) and then fusion power stations.
Commenting from Strasbourg, Sharon Bowles MEP said:
"Fusion energy is the energy of the future and so I am very happy the European Parliament has today voted to ensure funding for the JET project at Culham."
"There are approximately 600 people employed to work on JET and new funding will help secure many of their jobs. This is a big win for the EU and for JET."
EFDA Associate leader of JET, Dr Francesco Romanelli, commented:
"The experiments carried out at JET provide key results for ITER. Support for the operation of JET during Horizon 2020 is very important in ensuring the success of ITER, towards the development of fusion energy."
ENDS