The Horizon EUROfusion event is the first in a planned annual series where the EUROfusion consortium shares an update on European progress in fusion research and looks at what is ahead. This year, we will celebrate key results like the consortium’s recent fusion energy record and progress towards a heat exhaust for future fusion power plants. We will also look ahead at EUROfusion’s new seven-year research programme and present collaborations to grow Europe’s fusion industry and spin-off new technologies.
Developing fusion energy
Fusion is the process that powers stars like our sun and promises an inherently safe and near-limitless clean energy source for the long term here on earth. Fusion energy would generate immense amounts of energy from mere grams of abundant fuels found worldwide.
The EUROfusion research consortium brings together experts from across Europe in the world’s leading and most comprehensive fusion R&D programme. EUROfusion is co-funded by the European Union via the Euratom Research and Training Programme. From JET to ITER to DEMO, the European fusion roadmap lays out the consortium’s path towards industrial-scale fusion power plant technology by the middle of the century.
EUROfusion activities directly support the global fusion experiment ITER and work with European industry to develop the first-of-a-kind demonstration fusion power plant DEMO. Earlier this year, EUROfusion researchers showed the potential of fusion by setting a world record of 59 megajoules of sustained fusion energy at the Joint European Torus device (JET) in Culham, UK.
Horizon EUROfusion event
At the Horizon EUROfusion event, we will:
- celebrate recent accomplishments like the world fusion energy record announced by EUROfusion researchers earlier this year
- present our research plans that will give the global fusion experiment ITER a flying start
- announce the start of the conceptual design for the European demonstration fusion power plant DEMO. This first-of-a-kind fusion device is due to come into operation around the middle of this century and demonstrate the net production of 300 to 500 megawatts of clean and safe fusion energy to the grid
The Horizon EUROfusion event takes place from 10h – 12h30 CEST on 5 July 2022 at the Representation of the German State of Mecklenburg Vorpommern at the European Union, in Brussels, Belgium. The event is open to all via livestream and later a recording.
Programme:
- Dr Lars Friedrichsen (State of Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Germany)
Director, Representation of the State of Mecklenburg Vorpommern at the European Union
Word of Welcome - Ms Bettina Martin (State of Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Germany)
Minister for Science, Culture and Federal / European Affairs
Introductory remarks - Ms Joanna Drake (European Commission)
Deputy Director-General, DG Research & Innovation
The European Fusion programme’s support to the EU climate goals - Prof Dr Sibylle Günter (Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, Germany)
Co-chair of EUROfusion General Assembly
A look back at EUROfusion during Horizon 2020 - Prof Dr Ambrogio Fasoli (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland)
Chair of EUROfusion General Assembly
A look forward to Horizon EUROfusion - 20 Watts – short video on fusion
- Dr Tuomas Tala (VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland)
Head of the Fusion Research Unit
The impact of EUROfusion in Finland and its role in FinnFusion - Ms María Teresa Domínguez Bautista (Empresarios Agrupados energy engineering, Spain)
Advanced Projects Director
The role of industry in fusion - Dr Wouter Vijvers (Chromodynamics, the Netherlands)
Founder and CEO
From public research in fusion to a start up - Ms Rosalinde van der Vlies (European Commission)
Director of Clean Planet Directorate, DG Research & Innovation
Closing and the Way Forward
Resources: Check out our press pack (link has been removed) for supporting information and photo/video resources.
Learn about fusion research in your contry: Check out our Members webpage to see the researchers and institutes at the forefront of fusion energy research.
About EUROfusion
The EUROfusion consortium coordinates experts, students and facilities from across Europe to realise fusion energy in accordance with the European fusion roadmap. EUROfusion is co-funded via the Euratom Research and Training Programme, managed by the Directorate-General for Research & Innovation of the European Commission.
The EUROfusion programme is preparing for experiments at the international ITER project and developing concepts for the European demonstration fusion power plant DEMO. The programme supports fusion education and training, and works with companies to develop the European fusion industry.
Introducing EUROfusion video available in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
About Euratom
The Euratom Research and Training Programme (2021-2025) is a nuclear research and training programme with an emphasis on the continuous improvement of nuclear safety, security and radiation protection and fusion energy research. It complements the achievement of Horizon Europe’s objectives including in the context of the energy transition as well as contributing to the implementation of the European fusion roadmap.
