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Low Energy Nuclear Reaction

Test Gennuary 14 2011 Bologna

(The following interview of Andrea Rossi by blogger Daniele Passerini was originally published on Jan. 25 and is reprinted courtesy of Ventidue Passi D’amore e Dintorni. The English translation is provided courtesy of Shirakawa Akira. Passerini also prefaced the interview with his own comments (not translated here) in a short introduction titled “Toward Infinite Energy and Beyond.” Rossi has confirmed to New Energy Times that this English translation is factually correct.)

22PASSI. Good day Eng. Rossi, I thank you for accepting this interview. Everybody is asking themselves how you did manage to perfect your Energy Catalyzer? Somebody even suspects that you stole the idea, for example, from Professor [Francesco] Piantelli from the University of Siena, who in the 1990s worked together with Professor [Sergio] Focardi on “cold fusion” research. Could you explain us where, why, how and where you started working to this project?

ROSSI. I started in 1987. As facts show, my process strongly differs from previous efforts: nobody has managed to manufacture a working device so far. Facts count, not words.

22PASSI. 1987 would mean two years before the strongly disputed Pons-Fleischmann experiment. Recently you stated that it’s not proper to define the reaction occurring in your catalyzer as “cold fusion” and that it’s more correct, at the moment, to generically define it as a weak [force] nuclear reaction, in other words low energy or LENR. Are you telling us that you went on a different road, parallel to that of “cold fusion” research?

ROSSI. Exactly. In fact, mine is not “cold fusion,” but weak [force] nuclear reactions. Pons and Fleischmann did heavy water electrolysis with a palladium cathode and a platinum anode. I don’t do electrolysis, I don’t use either platinum or palladium and I use temperatures that manage to melt nickel.

22PASSI. The idea that you’ve built something which works, even without a scientific theoretical model, frightens some people regarding the safety of such a device. What could you tell us regarding this concern? I imagine that you have some idea of what happens in the catalyzer even if you’re unable to prove it, right?

ROSSI. Yes, I have a very precise idea and I think I understand perfectly the mechanism, but to explain it though it would be necessary first that the patent gets approved. For now we can demonstrate that the reactors work, and that they do not emit radiation; this is an additional benefit of being able to use the device without risks. The rest will come over time.

22PASSI. Regarding the patent, on the Internet it can be read that the request was made on behalf of your wife. Why?

ROSSI. I’m sorry, but I don’t see how this has something to do with scientific research.

22PASSI. Could you clarify the role that you and Prof. Focardi have regarding the apparatus development?

ROSSI. I’ve invented the method and the apparatus. Prof. Focardi had a fundamental role as a consultant, according to a definite agreement. He gave important contributions during the experimental phase, on the research method and on security systems, thanks also to his deep experience with nickel-hydrogen reactions.

22PASSI. What is the role of the University of Bologna regarding the apparatus you’re about to patent?

ROSSI. With the University of Bologna we made a research agreement which will be extended in order to study radiation and to research and develop certain details.

22PASSI. Clearly, once the catalyzer will be commercialized, there won’t be trade secrets anymore. Will you allow independent laboratories to check the inside of the device only after that, or will that happen before?

ROSSI. We have to build plants that will need to honor warranties made during the agreement phase. Clients will have to follow instructions for safety reasons too. That being said, clients will be free to perform any test they wish with their plants, as long as they honor their agreements. It’s clear, though, for us to reveal trade secrets, that the patent, currently pending, will have to be accepted. If it won’t, we’ll keep trade secrets for obvious reasons.

22PASSI. Many people doubt your credibility due to the Omar-Petroldragon scandal from the 1990s. On your Web site you provide an explanation of the events which frees you completely from any blame, pointing out that the judicial documents confirm that you have nothing to do with the environmental pollution and fraud accusations. Why then didn’t you bring a lawsuit to the Italian State in order to obtain compensation, given the huge economic (and image) losses you’ve had?

ROSSI. The answer to this question is thoroughly described in the http://www.ingandrearossi.com Web site. I don’t want to answer that here briefly: whoever is interested in that matter should read carefully what I’ve written on my Web site.

22PASSI. Among those people who believe that the Energy Catalyzer works, there’s doubt that it could be a target of cover-ups. They have fears that whoever currently controls the energy market (fossil fuels and uranium) would be willing to pay you enormous amounts of money in order to keep your invention locked in a safe.

ROSSI. They will have to step over my dead body. This technology is the meaning of my professional life and the reason of my personal life.

22PASSI. That is one more reason why we should all wish you a long and healthy life. Without stepping into conspiracy theories, do you think that your discovery is putting you in danger? That somebody could be planning to take you out, and it’s now almost certain, as happened almost fifty years ago to Enrico Mattei?

ROSSI. I think they will try to take me out more subtly, like they did years ago with the Omar-Petroldragon incident. However, today there’s the Internet and newspapers do not have the power to annihilate people anymore.

22PASSI. If your product succeeds, it’s clear that the energy market will change radically. How could the energy produced by your catalyzer and that produced by green sources like solar or wind coexist and what kind of synergy there could be?

ROSSI. They will merge and each will take its role.

22PASSI. You’ve stated that you will soon disclose a new 1 MW prototype (by arranging in parallel or serially – I haven’t understood clearly – units similar to that demonstrated in Bologna). Could you better explain this step and tell us when you expect a public demonstration?

ROSSI. It’s exactly as you say: modules like that verified in Bologna will be serially connected in order to increase temperatures and in parallel to increase energy at a constant temperature. I hope we will be able to unveil it by September-October 2011.

22PASSI. On the “Journal of Nuclear Physics” [blog] you’ve stated that a new company has been founded in Athens, the Defkalion Energy, which will manufacture catalyzers. Could you tell us some more details?

ROSSI. It’s a European Newco, affiliated with the largest businesses in the sector. They will issue soon a press release to announce themselves to the public.

22PASSI. One last thing. Fossil fuel dependency, or otherwise dependency from non-renewable resources, has got us accustomed to expecting that energy costs can only rise, but nickel and hydrogen utilized in your device are cheap and inexhaustible elements. Does this mean that, thanks to technologies like yours, energy prices, instead of increasing will become decrease?

ROSSI. Honestly, this is the reason why I think it’s worth working on it.

22PASSI. On behalf of every visitor of blog “Ventidue Passi D’amore e Dintorni,” thanks again for your time.

On the left Prof.Focardi, on the right Eng. Rossi