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 – worth between £50,000 and £250,000 – were funded by UKAEA’s new ‘Fusion Industry Programme’ and awarded through the UK Government ‘Small Business ResearchInitiative’. They focus on
challenges in digital engineering and hydrogen technology and are relevant across the range of approaches to developing commercial fusion energy.

Organizations awarded contracts to help accelerate fusion power plant design with next-generation digital tools include Assystem, CAE Tech, CRA, First Light Fusion, Full Matrix, Hybrid Ltd, Slingshot
Simulations and the University of Manchester.

Aqsorption, Cage Capture, 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’s Chief Technology Officer, said: “Fusion 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”.

Lyndsey Mooring, FIP Delivery Manager, said: “By 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.