ITER will be at the World Energy Congress in Korea: Fusion is entering the global energy landscape

With over 5,000 participants from 100 countries, and 25,000 visitors expected over the five days of the conference, the 22nd World Energy Congress (WEC) is the world’s premier event on energy. Launched in 1924 and held every three years since 1971, the Congress offers a unique venue for energy sector stakeholders—policy makers, chief executives from leading energy companies, industry experts and researchers—to debate the way to a sustainable energy future. 

The rise of renewables and alternative fuels as well as the development of new energy technologies is increasingly shaping the energy market. In this context, the ITER Organization and the seven ITER Members will be participating in the Congress for the first time in order to showcase fusion and the ITER Project. 

On the first day of the Congress, Monday 14 October, ITER Director-General Osamu Motojima will participate in a session entitled “Fusion: Betting on a different future?” Smaller sessions for the general public on “Why ITER and Fusion Energy?” and “The Future of Fusion Energy” will be organized daily (the program will be available at the ITER stand in Hall 2, B420). 

Representatives of the ITER Organization and the seven Domestic Agencies will also speak directly to journalists during a press conference scheduled on Tuesday 15 October at 11:00 a.m. 

“It is a great satisfaction for the whole fusion community and particularly for ITER to participate in a world conference devoted to ‘Securing Tomorrow’s Energy Today,’” declared ITER Director-General Motojima, interviewed before the event. “Fusion is indeed one of the answers to this major challenge.” 

Through intensive sessions, roundtables and exhibitions, actors from all energy sectors—from fossil fuels, to nuclear power, to renewables—will be confronting their perspectives on the issues and potential solutions for the future of energy supply. ITER is proud to take part in the 22nd edition of the world’s largest and most prestigious energy event.

BACKGROUND TO THE PRESS RELEASE 

ITER—designed to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power—will be the world's largest experimental fusion facility. Fusion is the process that powers the sun and the stars: when light atomic nuclei fuse together to form heavier ones, a large amount of energy is released. Fusion research is aimed at developing a safe, abundant and environmentally responsible energy source. 

ITER is also a first-of-a-kind global collaboration. Europe will contribute almost half of the costs of its construction, while the other six Members to this joint international venture (China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA), will contribute equally to the rest. The ITER Project is under construction in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, in the south of France. 

More information on the 22nd World Energy Congress (WEC) can be found here. 

More information on the ITER project can be found at: http://www.iter.org/

CONTACT

Michel Claessens 
michel.claessens@iter.org 
+33 6 14 16 41 75