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’Experts’ Call for Further Cuts in Nuclear and Fusion Research, in Germany
7 March 2013
(EIRNS)—The official Expert Commission on Research and Innovation (Expertenkommission zu Forschung und Innovation, EFI), which last week presented its new 204-page annual report to the German government, calls for scrapping at least one of the two fusion research programs, and ceasing funding of the Karlsruhe nuclear research institute, KIT. "Against the background of the Energy Change [the government’s switch to renewables and nuclear exit-ed.], the emphasis in the field of nuclear fusion should be reviewed," the commission argues, adding that it is "not necessary to pursue two different concepts of technology of nuclear fusion (Tokamak and Stellarator) in Germany." The report also refers to criticism voiced by the EU Commission in respect to the international ITER fusion research project in Cadarache, France, whose funding has been decreased for the time being. As for the KIT, the commission recommends that teh government "review the relevance of the transmutation research" pursued there. [RAP] |