Nuclear fusion technology centre to trial exotic alloy parts

The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) will be handed the site in September to begin the second phase of fit-out.

The £22 million building in Rotherham is strategically placed to engage industry in commercial fusion development.

Located at the heart of the UK’s advanced manufacturing region, it will bring 40 initial jobs to the area, and foster increased collaboration with research organisations including the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), the Nuclear AMRC, and The Welding Institute (TWI).

The 25,000ft² facility – located at the Advanced Manufacturing Park – will join other companies on site including Rolls-Royce, McLaren Automotive, and will capitalise on industry experts in the region.

The key role of the new Rotherham facility will be to develop and test technologies for fusion materials and components – for example novel metals and ceramics. These will then be tested and evaluated under conditions simulating the inside of a fusion reactor (including high heat flux, in-vacuum, and strong magnetic fields).

The site will help UK companies win contracts as part of ITER – the key international fusion project being built in the south of France.

Looking further ahead, it will enable technology development for the first fusion power plants, which are already being designed.

Damon Johnstone, head of UKAEA Yorkshire, said: “We are delivering the new facility at pace, with major milestones on building mobilisation and recruitment for the new facility proceeding to plan. There are exciting times ahead; the Fusion Technology facility in Rotherham will be unique in the world and as well as delivering cutting-edge R&D it will help to seed the development of a UK supply chain for fusion. The welcoming of UKAEA to the Advanced Manufacturing Park has been exceptional and is a credit to Sheffield and Rotherham councils, the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and developers Harworth.

“We can’t wait to get going and have no doubt the hub of manufacturing excellence being created in the area will prove to be of great importance to the commercialisation of fusion power.”

UKAEA www.ccfe.ukaea.uk/technology/fusion-technology