May set up fusion reactor for clean energy, says govt

Aditi Tandon

New Delhi, July 27

India may consider setting up a fusion reactor for generating clear energy in future, being part of the 35-nation International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, the government informed Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

“It is expected that fusion energy will become a new source of clean energy in future. India is one of the partner countries in ITER project. India has contributed significantly in the international collaborative effort. Based on the experience gained and success of the ITER project, India may consider setting up a similar fusion reactor in future,” Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh said.

He said efforts were being made to increase capacity addition of nuclear power by granting administrative approval of indigenous nuclear power stations in fleet mode.

“To help in speedy implementation of the project, NPCIL has ordered long-delivery items and equipment. NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India) has also worked on standardising the design of indigenous 700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor, to help in faster project implementation,” Singh said.

He said that to augment additional electricity generation through nuclear power plants, work has been initiated at the Kudankulam site for completion of KKNPP 3, 4, 5 and 6  plants, each with a capacity of 1,000 MWe, in collaboration with the Russian Federation.

The minister said the Department of Atomic Energy’s R&D institutes Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research are carrying out considerable research in development for thorium-based fuel cycle technology.

What are fusion and ITER

Fusion, the nuclear reaction that powers the sun and the stars, is a potential source of safe, non-carbon-emitting and virtually limitless energy. Harnessing fusion’s power is the goal of ITER, which has been designed as the key experimental step between today’s fusion research machines and tomorrow’s fusion power plants. ITER members China, the European Union (through Euratom), India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United States have entered into a 35-year collaboration to build and operate the ITER device. A two-decade research programme is planned during which the members will share in the experimental results.