The lecture is the first in the ANSTO Distinguished Lecture Series.
“As Australia launches further into the nuclear power debate, the role of fusion as a power
source should also be considered,” said Dr Green.
“Fusion energy could be a major contributor to mankind’s future energy supplies because its fuel – deuterium – is a sustainable resource. As a potential energy source, fusion is attractive because it appears to be affordable, safe and environmentally friendly.
“As opposed to fission where atoms are split, fusion is the process where two light atomic nuclei fuse together to form a heavier nucleus releasing large amounts of energy,” explained Dr Green.
“This is the process which powers the Sun and the stars, with the Sun being nature’s natural fusion reactor responsible for life on earth.”
“If harnessed on Earth, fusion energy would provide millions of years of base-load energy, with zero greenhouse gas emissions.”
Dr Green is recently retired after 40 years working in fusion research. He was directly involved as a member of the design team of the ITER fusion project, an international project currently being built in France.
The member nations of this project represent more than 50 per cent of the world’s population, but the project does not, as yet, include Australia. He also worked in the European Commission Directorate in Brussels, which coordinates all European energy research.
His talk will discuss the development of fusion energy (including Australia’s contributions) its present status, the future, and Australia’s possible involvement in the international programme.