False information and misleading communication about the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) programme

8.2.2018

Question for written answer E-000812-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Michèle Rivasi (Verts/ALE) , Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) , Rebecca Harms (Verts/ALE) , José Bové (Verts/ALE)

According to the website ‘New Energy Times’[1], some organisations involved in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) programme have recently corrected false and misleading information that had been published on their websites. Apparently, some ITER proponents have misled non-experts about the potential power output of the ITER experimental nuclear fusion reactor once it becomes operational. Such misrepresentation is not exclusive to ITER; it has been a systemic problem in the fusion community for decades. Specifically, the proponents conflated the power gain ratio of the plasma (technically known as the fusion Q) with the power gain ratio of the device (technically known as the engineering Q). They took the value for Q-fusion and convinced non-experts that it was the value for Q-engineering. They did this not only by switching the Q‐values but also by hiding the actual input power required for the reactor.

Is the Commission aware of this mistake, or is it informed of these changes?

Will the Commission investigate the reasons for such mistakes?

Also, what are the consequences for the future of the ITER project, and will the possible negative impacts on the project be assessed?

• [1] http://news.newenergytimes.net/2017/12/11/evidence-of-the-iter-power-deception