Intended to develop advanced technologies to produce sustainable and safe energy
The President of ENEA - National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development Federico Testa and Eni's Chief Executive Officer, Claudio Descalzi, have signed a memorandum of understanding that paves the way for collaboration in research on magnetic confinement fusion, to obtain clean, sustainable and safe energy with the mechanism with which energy is produced in the Sun. In particular, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) foresees the possibility of collaborating, through the establishment of a special company, in the realization and management of the Divertor Tokamak Test (DTT) project, the scientific-technological center under construction at the ENEA center in Frascati. The DTT is proposed as a new experimental machine to test different solutions and provide scientific and technological answers to some peculiar aspects of the fusion process, such as the management of very high temperatures.
Specifically, the Memorandum provides for the definition of the areas of action and the commitments of the Parties to carry out and conduct the DTT project and the joint assessment of the methods for establishing the corporate vehicle.
Eni's CEO stated: "Eni is proud to collaborate on scientific issues with leading public and private research institutions, with Italian excellence, such as ENEA. This agreement further strengthens our commitment to the development and application of innovative technologies, a key element in Eni's decarbonisation strategy towards a more sustainable future. The agreement confirms Eni's commitment and interest in a challenging field such as that of the magnetic confinement merger started a year ago with the investment in CFS start-up (Commonwealth Fusion Systems) and collaborations with MIT in the USA, and recently with the signing of an agreement with CNR for the construction of a joint Research Center in Gela. We will contribute with our industrial, technical and commercial skills to the realization of this very important initiative ".
"In the fusion sector, ENEA is recognized as an international leader thanks to the level of excellence of our researchers, the instrumental equipment and advanced technological laboratories," said the head president, adding that the DTT project, already fully funded, places Italy at the vanguard in frontier research and will allow the creation of 1500 jobs and a return of over 2 billion. “ENEA has developed a high degree of professionalism in the management of complex projects at national, European and international level, providing tests, studies and measures aimed at increasing the quality of products, services and processes, promoting sustainability and enhancing it for production purposes and competitiveness and this alliance with Eni is a positive confirmation ".
The merger agreement follows the Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2018 to identify areas of common interest for the joint development of innovative technological solutions.