(REF S720) SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – ITER and Fusion Energy

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy 
The SDG 7 is a universal and urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030. The goal, being adopted in 2015 is a follow-up of the partially achieved millennium goals.
Among others, this goal includes the achievement of universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services, the increase of renewable energy in the global energy mix, and the improvement of energy efficiency. The creativity, know-how, technology and financial resources from all of society is necessary to achieve SDG 7 in every context.

SSUNGA76 Sessions on ITER and Fusion Energy

Session 1: 20 September 2021, 2-4pm

• Can ITER and fusion energy play a role in fighting climate change?

Challenge addressed by the session:
While renewables and energy efficiency will play a significant role, it might not be sufficient to achieve climate neutrality 2050 targets. Other clean energy sources might need to be employed. How likely it is that fusion energy would advance to a level where it can complement renewables?

Concept and focus  
The panel session is designed to present the ITER project and fusion energy to a wide audience and to discuss its relevance in supplying sustainable energy. The aim is to raise awareness about this key technology and critically discuss its future role in a climate-friendly energy mix with experts inside and outside the ITER project. The event is targeted to reach a non-specialist audience interested in fusion energy. The session will start with a short presentation to introduce the topic to the audience and then move on to a critical panel discussion. Interactions with the public will be included in the programme.

Planned panellists 

• Chair: Mr Declan Kirane (Confirmed)
• Ms Shira Tabaschnikoff – ITER Organisation (Confirmed)
• Dr Melanie Windridge – Tokamak Energy, UK Director of the Fusion Industry Association and founder of Fusion Energy Insights (Confirmed)
• Ms Kirsty Gogan – NGO Energy for Humanity (Proposed)
• Dr Samuele Furfari – the Free University of Brussels (Proposed)

 Session 2: 20 September 2021, 4-6pm

• Will fusion energy become commercial before 2050?

Challenge addressed by the session:
Although ITER is the flagship fusion project, there are about 30 projects worldwide devoted to fusion energy, many supported by venture capital and private funds. Several small companies and start-ups have entered the still-embryonic market of fusion reactors, such as TAE Technologies in California, Helion Energy in Seattle, LPPFusion in New York, General Fusion in Canada, Tokamak Energy, First Light Fusion and Applied Fusion Systems in the UK, and the company set up by MIT in Boston, Commonwealth Fusion Systems.

Concept and focus  
The panel session will review the progress and the future perspectives of key fusion projects. And address this crucial question: when can we expect fusion energy to become commercial? Are these young companies close to mastering fusion energy or is the aim mainly to develop new technologies and hopefully find spin-off applications in other sectors, as TAE Technologies successfully did in the field of medical technologies?
Planned panellists 

• Chair: Mr Michel Claessens (Confirmed)
• Mr Bernard Bigot, Director-General – ITER Organisation (Proposed)
• Mr Michel Laberge, Chief Scientist, General Fusion, Canada (Proposed)
• Mr Bob Mumgaard, founder and CEO, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, USA (Proposed)
• Mr Mark Henderson, STEP (Proposed)

•   SDG7