Scientists push for fusion energy in Australia

Australian scientists are today presenting at Parliament House a plan for the nation to develop fusion energy as a potentially safe and sustainable energy source.

China, the European Union, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the US are supporting the world's largest science experiment with the development and construction of the next step fusion energy experiment, ITER.

The Australian ITER forum, which comprises over 130 scientists and engineers, is calling for investment to build a sustainable, internationally integrated research capability in fusion, enabling Australia to participate in ITER and beyond.

Chair of the forum, Dr Matthew Hole said fusion power offers the possibility of millions of years of intrinsically safe base load energy generation, with zero direct greenhouse emissions from the reactor, very low levels of radioactive waste and no weapon proliferation potential.

"The next step in fusion power research is construction of ITER, which will produce 500 MW of power. Australians pioneered fusion research, and the nation today has world-class expertise in plasma physics and materials research," Hole said.

"However, while other advanced industrial nations are expanding their investment in fusion-related fields, Australia's capabilities are static and dispersed. It's time to develop a new generation of researchers with expertise in this area, looking towards the future when commercially viable fusion energy plants are being built."

The forum has outlined its proposal in "A Strategy for Australian Fusion Science and Engineering — through ITER and into the future," which was developed with input from representatives from government, science and industry.

The forum is supported by seven universities, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering.