Global warming requires the EU and the world to decarbonize its energy sector. Besides investment in wind and solar energy, countries are working on the development of fusion energy as a sustainable energy source for the future. The ITER project is one of the most ambitious energy projects in the world today that aims to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion energy.
On Tuesday, 15 February 2022, the Directorate-General for Energy conducted a webinar for the students of the College of Europe in Natolin and for the College of Europe in Bruges students. During the webinar representatives of DG Energy explained in the first part EU’s Fusion research activities in the broader context of its climate policy, expected changes in the energy mix and how fusion energy can contribute to a sustainable energy sector. The second part concentrated on the physical basics of fusion energy and its technological implementation with the so-called Tokamak machines. Additionally, the webinar focused on ITER, the world’s biggest tokamak that is being built in Cadarache, South of France. Governance aspects of the ITER project and further activities of the EU in the field of developing fusion energy were discussed. The lecture organized by the Natolin Energy and Climate Nest ended with a Q&A session.
About the experts:
Renatas MAŽEIKA is the current head of the D4 unit in DG ENER since September 2019. Earlier he was responsible for the European Consumer policy and for the management of the financial programmes in the area of the fundamental rights, equality and justice. Before joining the European Commission, Mr MAŽEIKA worked several years for the European Central Bank and for the Bank of Lithuania.
Johannes DE HAAS is research Programme Officer at D4 since 2010. He has broad experience in the development of fusion energy. He worked among others at the Joint European Torus located at Culham Centre for Fusion Energy in Oxfordshire, UK.
The webinar was moderated by Martin WYCISK, Blue Book Trainee at D4 and College of Europe Alumni (Mário Soares Promotion).
The webinar was available online for the students of the College of Europe in Natolin and also open for the College of Europe in Bruges students.
For more information please contact Dr Barbara BOBROWICZ and Dr Joanna ZIÓŁKOWSKA.