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Published 10 June 2010, updated 14 June 2010

Tags

energy research, ITER, nuclear energy

A multi-billion euro international research project has run into deep financial trouble as EU governments scramble to find money to meet spiralling costs. However, with European credibility at stake, officials say there is no question of abandoning the project despite the yawning funding gaps.

Europe's bill for the France-based ITER project has almost trebled, leaving cash-strapped finance ministers to question the merits of the investment.

Euratom, the European Atomic Energy Community, could be asked to fork out close to €6 billion, with France liable for a further €1.3 billion in its capacity as host country for the plant.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2012, leading critics to call for the project to be shelved before it gathers further momentum. However, advocates point out that ITER is the subject of an international agreement which would be difficult to break.

The ITER reactor aims to replicate the kind of fusion that occurs in the sun as an abundant source of energy.

Last month, research ministers met in Brussels to discuss the future of the initiative in light of its rising costs. Ministers reiterated their commitment to ITER but could not agree a detailed plan on a way forward. Instead they set up a task force to find a solution by the summer.

Cost-containment measures and improved financial management are likely to be part of the task force's discussions, but the bigger challenge is to pull funding from other sources to save the project.

Conflict on plugging funding gap

National governments are at odds with the European Commission on how the funding shortfall should be addressed. Brussels is pushing for an injection of fresh funds, while ministers insist that the money should be drawn from existing sources. The precise mechanism for doing that has fuelled ongoing political tension.

The Commission has outlined a range of possibilities, including tapping into the EU's framework programme for research. This has met with resistance because it is not clear what programmes would have to be sacrificed to save ITER.

The idea of seeking a loan from the European Investment Bank has also been floated but the Commission is wary of this option – a fact that critics say illustrates the inherent financial risk of the investment.

Delaying the construction timeline would allow the EU to spread its costs over a long period but would likely cause friction with other ITER partners such as China, Japan and the US.

EU position unclear ahead of meeting

The ITER Council, which governs the project, meets in China on 16 and 17 June but it is far from certain that Europe will have a clear position on where it will find additional money.

The task force set up by research ministers has already met twice this month (3 and 5 June) and could meet twice more in the coming weeks. The issue will also be discussed when diplomats meet in Brussels next month ahead of the next Competitiveness Council in July.

Key elements of the ITER Council agenda could be postponed if a deal cannot be reached in the meantime, but diplomats say that unilaterally withdrawing from the international consortium is not an option.

The ITER saga has echoes of the furore that surrounded the runaway budget for the Galileo satellite navigation project, with researchers in other fields wondering whether their funding will suffer if funds are diverted to ITER.

Positions:

Green MEPs have led the revolt against ITER, saying politicians have fallen for the grandiose appeal of fusion research despite the fact that even the most optimistic advocates cannot foresee commercial exploitation until 2090. They called the programme "a financial white elephant".

Rebecca Harms, president of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament, said it seems that useful results from fusion research "have always been 40 years away".

"I'm now convinced that this is the best moment to stop ITER before construction begins. We have a great opportunity to save money and invest in better, safer energy solutions," she said.

The Greens want investment in renewable energies, which they say are much more likely to deliver results in the near future. Environmental groups have also raised questions over the safety of nuclear fusion and the new proliferation risks it might bring.

Luxembourg Green MEP Claude Turmes said fusion research is at a "dead end" and that renewables have proven to be a worthwhile way to invest Europe's limited research budgets.

He said the idea that fusion research should be there as a fall-back has become irrelevant, particularly as it is unlikely to produce results in time to help tackle climate change or deal with peak oil.

Green MEPs said international law allows changes to agreements, such as that underpinning cooperation on ITER, in cases where there are unforeseen changes in circumstances. The economic crisis – which is forcing governments to slash salaries and social welfare budgets – has made an increase in nuclear research spending unthinkable, they said.

However, EU officials said that axing the project now will not save as much as critics claim. They say the costs of abandoning the project would be high, as high-value contracts have already been awarded and other major tenders have been published. This, and the potential impact on Europe's reputation, means continued investment is likely.

An ITER spokesperson told EurActiv that all governments are currently under financial pressure but he called for a long-term view to be taken.

"In a period of major economic stress worldwide, none of our members - China, the EU, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the US - has suggested pulling out of or slowing down the ITER project. I do not believe that there is growing scepticism but now is the time when members have to guarantee long-term financial support. I believe it is completely natural that there should be debate and some opposition. However, the future of the world's economy will be based on energy resources. It will take time to get fusion running and the world's governments are aware that the sooner we start, the sooner we finish," he said.

Next steps:

21 June: European Council task force on ITER meets.
16-17 June: ITER Council meeting in China.
July 2010: Coreper (EU ambassadors) to discuss ITER project.

External Links

Cut-away of a model of the ITER Vacuum Vessel

Background:

The ITER project is an experimental thermonuclear reactor based in Cadarache in southern France. The French site saw off rival bids from Japan, Spain and Canada.

Fusion research is touted by its proponents as a potential source of cheap, abundant and carbon-free fuel. However, sceptics say fusion has been a pipedream for decades and there remains scant evidence that it will yield practical results. There are also question marks over safety, according to environmentalists, who want the funding diverted to renewable energy research.

The initiative began as a US-Russian project in the 1980s but now includes the EU, China, India, Japan and South Korea. 45% of the funding for the project comes from Europe, with a sizeable contribution from France. The remainder of the money is contributed by the other members.

In 2001, total construction costs were estimated at around €5.9 billion and building was expected to be completed over a ten-year period. However, this has almost tripled to €16 billion, with critics claiming that the final bill could be even higher. Construction is yet to begin.