1. Fusion Energy – FAQ Seppo Karttunen – personal views Is fusion safe? Radioactive waste in fusion? Some further remarks Fusion versus fission Cost of fusion energy? Fusion energy – when?

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Neutron loading Seppo Karttunen, "Fusion Energy - FQA", Euratom-Tekes Annual Seminar 2012, Tartu, Estonia

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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