UKAEA awards 拢2.3million of innovation contracts to address technical challenges of fusion energy
Contracts are part of Fusion Industry Programme
An experiment in UKAEA's MAST fusion research device at Culham Science Centre.
Fifteen organisations have secured UKAEA contracts to demonstrate how their innovative solutions and technologies can contribute to the development of commercial fusion energy.
The contracts 鈥� worth between 拢50,000 and 拢250,000 - were funded by UKAEA鈥檚 new 鈥楩usion Industry Programme鈥� and awarded through the UK Government 鈥楽mall Business Research Initiative鈥�. They focus on challenges in digital engineering and hydrogen technology and are relevant across the range of approaches to developing commercial fusion energy.
Organisations awarded contracts to help accelerate fusion power plant design with next-generation digital tools include Assystem, CAE Tech, CRA, First Light Fusion, Full Matrix, Hybird Ltd, Slingshot Simulations and the University of Manchester.
Aqsorption, CageCapture, Gencoa, IDOM, IS-Instruments, Jacobs and the University of Bristol have all been successful securing funding to reduce fusion power plant fuel requirements by researching advanced production and handling technologies for hydrogen isotopes.
Tim Bestwick, UKAEA鈥檚 Chief Technology Officer, said: 鈥淔usion energy holds enormous promise as a low-carbon energy source for the world, but it is technically very challenging. This scheme is helping engage a range of organisations and industrial partners to address these important challenges. We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work alongside these organisations, and hope to include many others as the scheme develops鈥�.
Lyndsey Mooring, FIP Delivery Manager, said: 鈥淏y using the established Small Business Research Initiative to seek innovations to these fusion challenges, UKAEA has been able to support a diverse set of organisations. This is important to bring us all closer to commercial fusion energy.鈥�