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May
14, 2001
U.S. and
European Union Agree to Joint Fusion and Non-Nuclear
Energy Research
Brussels -- U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham
and European Union Commissioner for Research Philippe
Busquin today signed agreements to conduct joint
research in the areas of fusion energy and non-nuclear
energy.
“As our agencies begin this cooperation
in non-nuclear science and technology under the
1997 Science & Technology Agreement, we embark
on a whole new era of collaboration,” Secretary
Abraham said at a signing ceremony in Brussels.
“This arrangement provides us with an opportunity
to pursue alternatives to our mounting energy
demands and help secure our needs for the future.”
The DOE/EU Implementing Arrangement in Non-Nuclear
S&T is the first major legally binding agency-to-agency
agreement signed under the 1997 US/EU Government-to-Government
S&T covering a wide range of potential cooperation
in fossil energy, renewable energy and energy
efficiency with an immediate focus on fuel cell
technology and carbon sequestration.
“With the signing of the new umbrella fusion
agreement, we look forward to continuing our many
years of successful collaboration in the field
of fusion research,” Secretary Abraham added.
“This agreement also provides the opportunity
to pursue new initiatives.”
Areas of cooperation under the agreement may include
tokamaks (a doughnut-shaped magnetic confinement
design), alternatives to tokamaks, magnetic fusion
energy technology, plasma theory and applied plasma
physics. Under the agreement, the U.S. Department
of Energy plans to contribute $1.3 million over
two years to develop hardware for use at the Joint
European Torus (JET) fusion device in the United
Kingdom. The hardware will enable JET to enhance
its performance and explore new areas of fusion
science. Ongoing collaborations include research
to improve understanding of the physics of newer,
innovative approaches to fusion.
The original umbrella fusion agreement was signed
in 1986. The agreement provides for cooperation
between the European Atomic Energy Community represented
by the Commission of the European Communities
and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Media Contact: Jeanne Lopatto, 202/586-4940
Number: R-01-072
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