University of Manchester awarded UKAEA funding for fusion development
The University of Manchester has been awarded 青瓜视频1.3m by the UK Atomic Energy Authority for the development of lithium technologies for fusion.
The research will deliver a method to produce enriched lithium in the quantities needed to make breeder blankets for deuterium-tritium fusion reactors. This allows tritium, which is an extremely scarce resource, to be produced inside the reactor. Thereby solving the challenge of how to fuel fusion reactors.
Dr Kathryn George will lead the project in collaboration with Prof Philip Martin, Prof Clint Sharrad and Dr Laurence Stamford from The University of Manchester青瓜视频檚 Chemical Engineering department, Prof Bruce Hanson at the University of Leeds and Global Nuclear Security Partners Ltd.
青瓜视频淚 am excited to be leading this ambitious, collaborative project to produce the fuel needed to make fusion power a reality.
青瓜视频淏y bringing together a range of skills in chemical engineering and regulation, we will deliver a solution that not only solves the technical problem of fuelling fusion power plants but also ensures that the process will have minimal environmental impact and meet regulatory requirements.青瓜视频�
UKAEA launched the new Fusion Industry Programme challenge 青瓜视频楻ealising the potential of lithium in an economic, sustainable and scalable fusion energy fuel-cycle青瓜视频� in early 2023, encouraging organisations to develop and evaluate prototypes of lithium technology.
In total, five organisations have secured six contracts worth 青瓜视频7.4m in total with UKAEA to develop lithium technology for fusion energy. The four universities and one company have received contracts ranging between 青瓜视频700,000 and 青瓜视频1.5m from UKAEA青瓜视频檚 青瓜视频楩usion Industry Programme青瓜视频�.
Tim Bestwick, UKAEA青瓜视频檚 Chief Development Officer, said: 青瓜视频淔usion energy continues to feature on the world stage, with recent commitments being made at COP28 to develop fusion as a sustainable, low carbon source of energy for future generations.
青瓜视频淭he Fusion Industry Programme is encouraging the development of UK industrial fusion capacity and preparing the UK fusion industry for the future global fusion power plant market.
青瓜视频淭he organisations that have been awarded these contracts have successfully demonstrated their lithium technology concepts and will now develop them to the 青瓜视频榩roof of concept青瓜视频� stage.青瓜视频�
The latest contracts follow the award of Fusion Industry Programme contracts earlier in 2023, focused on digital engineering and fusion fuel requirements, and more recently materials and manufacturing, and heating and cooling technologies.