Japan\u2019s current policy on prototype reactor R&D was originally issued in 2017. The timing of the shift to the stage of prototype development\u2014including checks and reviews\u2014took into consideration the operating stages of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Project, with the reactor itself now under construction.<\/p>\n
The revisions to the policy this time are to be based on targets for nuclear fusion development in other countries, together with the progress of the ITER Project.<\/p>\n
The key points in the revisions will be as follows:<\/p>\n
In the future, those points will be addressed by Japan\u2019s task force on the comprehensive strategy for prototype reactor development, under the panel of experts mentioned in the first paragraph above.<\/p>\n
The Japan Fusion Energy Council (J-Fusion) was established in April of this year toward the commercialization of nuclear fusion energy, based on the Fusion Energy Innovation Strategy issued by the Cabinet Office (Science and Technology Policy group)\u00a0in April of 2023.<\/p>\n
In the context of recent activities at the level of the prime minister regarding prototype reactor R&D, the goal of a power generation demonstration in the 2030s was included last month (June 2024) in the Integrated Innovation Strategy and the 2024 revised version of Japan\u2019s Grand Design and Action Plan for a New Form of Capitalism.<\/p>\n
Additionally, a project team under the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is formulating proposals to clarify fusion energy\u2019s position in the country\u2019s Strategic Energy Plan, now undergoing revision. Thus, movements can be seen in various quarters aiming at the commercialization of nuclear fusion energy.<\/p>\n
At the July 10 meeting of the panel of experts, one of the attendees, KAMATA Yutaka, deputy director-general\u00a0of the ITER organization, gave a progress report on the project, saying that construction was 85% complete. However, he said that a new baseline is being considered for the achievement of first plasma at ITER: a delay from the initial target of 2025 to 2034 or so. The delay in ITER\u2019s completion has already been reported by its board of directors.<\/p>\n
At a press conference on July 8, TOKURA Masakazu, chair of Japan\u2019s Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), said that global warming was \u201ca matter requiring immediate attention\u201d and emphasized the urgency of developing decarbonized energies, including nuclear fusion. \u201cThe best thing would be for each country to work hard to commercialize [fusion] in its own way, based on the knowledge and information acquired so far,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Similarly, at a press conference on July 5, TAKAICHI Sanae, Japan\u2019s minister of state for\u00a0Science and Technology\u00a0Policy, part of the Cabinet Office, talked about her attendance at the G7 Science and Technology Ministers\u2019 Meeting from July 9 to 11 in Bologna, Italy. She said that nuclear fusion energy would be included for the first time in its communique\u0301, integrating those discussions.<\/p>\n
Minister Takaichi had taken the lead in discussions of the subject at the G7 summit held in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, in May 2023, when Japan was chairing the G7 Science and Technology Ministers’ Meeting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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