Peak Oil is You
Donate Bitcoins ;-) or Paypal :-)
Page added on April 25, 2014
Top Ten Reasons for ITER
As climate change becomes a serious national security threat, we must look to the future for a clean, safe and sustainable source of energy for our future. The ITER experiment will be the largest 
experimental tokamak nuclear fusion reactor, located at Cadarache, France. Through ITER, we can find solutions to control fusion energy, so that it can be commercialized to provide the world with a sustainable energy source. This project was born in 1985 in hopes of peace through energy cooperation between the superpowers of the Soviet Union and the U.S. Today, its members include China, the European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States of America. With recent controversy over the mismanagement of the ITER structure, the U.S. has reevaluated its position in funding the ITER project. If the U.S. withdraws from the project, we will fall behind in energy research and will not be able to reap theITER numerous benefits that ITER offers. Below I state the top ten reasons why ITER is beneficial for the United States
1. ITER is a great return on investment: The U.S. only contributes about 9% but reaps 100% of what ITER produces.
2. ITER provides business opportunities: About 80% of the funds for the ITER project is spent within the U.S.[1]
3. U.S. business would be exporting large amounts of goods: U.S. businesses are not only getting contracted by U.S. ITER but by other ITER members. One example is the Oxford Superconducting Technology. Located in New Jersey, it was awarded over $55 million by the EU for torodial field strand production.[2]
4. The ITER project engages U.S. industries, universities and national laboratories: ITER stems from a wide range of natural science and engineering fields which provides many different opportunities for a variety of fields to be in conjunction with each other.
5. It creates jobs: The ITER Organization predicts between 2014 and 2017 there will be around 3,000-4,000 workers added to the existing 1,000 employees.[3]
6. ITER provides future large investments in the U.S.: The project anticipates an estimate of $1 Billion in future contracts for the United States.[4]
7. Keeps America competitive: Participating in the ITER project prevents the U.S. from falling behind on new frontiers of science.
8. ITER is a method of practicing diplomacy through energy: During the Cold War, Mikhail Gorbachev saw fusion energy as a solution to get the Soviet Union and the U.S. to cooperate. If the U.S. withdraws from the project, it will lose international credibility.
9. Most of the U.S. is involved: ITER contracts extend over 38 states, which have been awarded for $10,000 or more.[5]
10. ITER provides a solution to the energy crisis: Fusion provides,clean limitless energy. The fusion process produces no greenhouse gas emissions or radioactive waste. Fusion uses resources readily available. Deuterium is an abundant resources that can be found in water and tritium is produced during the fusion process.[6]
14 Comments on "Top Ten Reasons for ITER"
bobinget on Fri, 25th Apr 2014 8:21 am
If you care:
ITER (originally an acronym of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor and Latin for “the way” or “the road”) is an international nuclear fusion …
in a related item:
This morning, news broke from Bloomberg that GE could be on the cusp of its largest deal ever. The buyout target, according to unnamed Bloomberg sources, is the French builder of power plants and transmission gear, Alstom SA. As of this afternoon, neither company confirmed that a deal was in the works, but shares of Alstom nonetheless spiked higher by 11% on the rumors.
Arthur on Fri, 25th Apr 2014 12:23 pm
The French government is up in arms to prevent the takeover of Alstom.
J-Gav on Fri, 25th Apr 2014 12:51 pm
Yeah, Bob and Art, I caught that news too. We’ll see, but independently of the investor configuration involved in this, the 10 points listed above are nothing short of ludicrous. No need to go beyond the first point: “The U.S. reaps 100% of what ITER produces.” Tell me, what is 100% of jack-shit?
Davey on Fri, 25th Apr 2014 1:12 pm
Wall Street psychopaths at is again
Norm on Sat, 26th Apr 2014 4:32 am
Six figure salaries for welfare bums.
Kenz300 on Sun, 27th Apr 2014 1:39 am
We Could Power All 50 States With Wind, Solar and Hydro Washington’s Blog
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2014/03/solar-wind-mix-baseload.html
—————————–
The clean energy transition is unstoppable, so why fight it? – SmartPlanet
http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/the-take/clean-energy-transition-unstoppable-so-why-fight-it/?tag=nl.e662&s_cid=e662&ttag=e662&ftag=TRE383a915
Bert on Mon, 5th May 2014 7:12 am
you can power 50 states with renewable energy but you can’t power a spaceship with it! Think further ahead…
greetz
Bert
A fusion scientist on Mon, 5th May 2014 10:04 am
1. ITER is a great return on investment: The U.S. only contributes about 9% but reaps 100% of what ITER produces.
***ITER was originally supposed to cost $5B (worldwide), and we would deliver about $500M of items, and it would be operational by 2017. In 2007, US-ITER costs were estimated at $1.2B. Now the US cost estimate alone is $4B-$6B, there is no ITER total cost estimate, and the first plasma has no believable schedule, although 2023 is touted for pink glow. Actual tritium operations are pushing 2030, under the most optimistic thinking. If you consider that the tokamak disruption issue hasn’t been solved, and will be such a huge problem for ITER operations, then ITER will likely not produce anything (scientifically speaking).
2. ITER provides business opportunities: About 80% of the funds for the ITER project is spent within the U.S.[1]
***Great… at the same time the ITER overruns are crushing the US domestic fusion and plasma research efforts.
3. U.S. business would be exporting large amounts of goods: U.S. businesses are not only getting contracted by U.S. ITER but by other ITER members. One example is the Oxford Superconducting Technology. Located in New Jersey, it was awarded over $55 million by the EU for torodial field strand production.[2]
***A large amount?
4. The ITER project engages U.S. industries, universities and national laboratories: ITER stems from a wide range of natural science and engineering fields which provides many different opportunities for a variety of fields to be in conjunction with each other.
***Actually, US-ITER bidding rules are preventing national laboratories from teaming with universities and US industry.
5. It creates jobs: The ITER Organization predicts between 2014 and 2017 there will be around 3,000-4,000 workers added to the existing 1,000 employees.[3]
***In flat budget constrained scenarios, it has killed US research jobs, prematurely limited and channeled research towards ITER-specific R&D, rather than looking at potentially more attractive alternatives. The jobs mentioned here, are temporary, not permanent at ITER.
6. ITER provides future large investments in the U.S.: The project anticipates an estimate of $1 Billion in future contracts for the United States.[4]
***ITER wastes dollars on endless meetings and bureaucracy. Even at this stage the design still isn’t complete either.
7. Keeps America competitive: Participating in the ITER project prevents the U.S. from falling behind on new frontiers of science.
***Even if ITER were to make its design goals, it is a dead end. It’s very size and complexity alone is proof positive that it isn’t the right way to make an economical fusion reactor. Can you even imagine 40 ITER-class machines around the world to “make” energy (which by the way, ITER will not do). Participating in ITER is PREVENTING the USA from following other potentially better pathways to fusion energy.
8. ITER is a method of practicing diplomacy through energy: During the Cold War, Mikhail Gorbachev saw fusion energy as a solution to get the Soviet Union and the U.S. to cooperate. If the U.S. withdraws from the project, it will lose international credibility.
***The USA did not sign a treaty to do ITER. It wasn’t even an act of Congress…just a Presidential Executive Order, signed by George W. Bush. However, it is true that ITER is a gigantic diplomacy effort…endless sitting around tables in meetings until the cows come home, with no specific fixed date for results. Perhaps US-ITER should reside completely in the State Department, and be called for what it is ……Foreign Aid.
9. Most of the U.S. is involved: ITER contracts extend over 38 states, which have been awarded for $10,000 or more.[5]
***Yes, it is true that the ITER overruns have eaten into (and killed off) scientific research efforts in many states. $10k? Give me a break. You can’t even pay for an undergrad with that.
10. ITER provides a solution to the energy crisis: Fusion provides,clean limitless energy. The fusion process produces no greenhouse gas emissions or radioactive waste. Fusion uses resources readily available. Deuterium is an abundant resources that can be found in water and tritium is produced during the fusion process.[6]
***There is no “energy crisis”. There is a problem with the way we make energy (greenhouse gases). If we have to wait for fusion, it will be too late…..the climate will have warmed, the glaciers melted, and the ocean levels risen. We should be deploying every available form of non-fossil fuel energy production (including fission) today.
Glen Wurden on Wed, 7th May 2014 2:18 pm
These 10 reasons have nothing to do with ITER specifically. If you replace the word “ITER” by ISS (International Space Station) for example…..the first 9 reasons still match perfectly.
fall guys on Mon, 25th Apr 2022 4:09 am
I’m looking to learn about ITER. Thank you for the interesting and new sharing of the author to the readers
JamesOneil on Sun, 26th Feb 2023 2:27 pm
As of this afternoon crunch fitness price per month
neither company confirmed that a deal was in the works, but shares of Alstom nonetheless spiked higher.
Osh University on Tue, 20th Feb 2024 1:12 pm
Osh University is a leading institution in the realm of university health sciences , committed to advancing knowledge and preparing students for impactful careers in healthcare.
Tempo Garments on Tue, 20th Feb 2024 1:13 pm
Don't miss out on our exciting sale on clothing brands in Pakistan at Tempo Garments! Explore premium quality apparel at unbeatable prices. From trendy tops to classic bottoms, elevate your wardrobe with Tempo Garments' stylish collection. Hurry, shop now and enjoy incredible discounts on your favorite styles!
Shalamar Hospital on Tue, 20th Feb 2024 1:14 pm
Visit Shalamar Hospital for expert orthopedic care by our dedicated orthopedic surgeon . With advanced techniques and personalized attention, we’re committed to your musculoskeletal well-being.