Synergies and conflicts between safety and economic objectives for fusion: implications for fusion development strategies

The paramount reason for pursuing fusion R&D is that fusion power stations potentially have major safety and environmental advantages over alternatives for bulk electricity generation. However, these advantages must be secured in an economically acceptable form. Discusses the safety, environmental and economic objectives for fusion, and considers how they might best be reconciled and achieved. The main results of the SEAFP study are briefly presented. The fundamental reasons for the very favourable results are explained, distinguishing between results stemming from generic factors, and results which might alter as a result of design changes. Systems code calculations are used to assess the broad design features which improve economic performance. Scoping calculations are given which indicate the changes in S&E performance which would arise from design changes made to improve economic performance. The changes which improve both S&E and economic performances, those that improve economics without significant impact on S&E and vice versa, and those that remove the potential for significant conflicts between economic and S&E objectives, are noted. The implications of the above for the definition of attractive fusion demonstration power plants (DEMOs), and for the plasma physics and technology R&D programmes leading up to these, are discussed