Fusion energy experiments, like this one at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, aim to develop stable fusion power. Credit: EUROfusion.

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has awarded contracts worth a total of £3.1m ($3.7m) to 18 organisations that hope to make commercial fusion energy a reality.

The contracts, which range between £50,000 and £200,000, will support feasibility studies by 15 companies and three universities, focusing on two main concerns.

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Research by Calgavin, TWI, Idom (UK) and the University of Manchester will tackle heating and cooling systems. Meanwhile, the University of Birmingham and Swansea University will work with private industry to improve the availability of fusion power plants with new fusion materials, technology and manufacturing processes.

These companies come from all levels of industry and include Archer Technicoat, Astral Neutronics, Castings Technology International, Duality Quantum Photonics, Fraser-Nash Consultancy, Full Matrix, Jacobs UK, Laser Additive Solutions, Oxford, QDOT Technology, Sigma, 3-Sci and TWI.

The projects funded under the scheme will tackle specific challenges concerning the commercial future of fusion energy in order to make larger numbers of fusion power plants commercially viable.

The funding comes from the Fusion Industry Programme, part of a £484m research support package announced by the UK Government in November 2022.

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Tim Bestwick, UKAEA’s chief technology officer, said: “In the past 12 months we have seen significant advances both in the UK and globally that demonstrate the potential for fusion energy to be a safe, low-carbon and sustainable part of the world’s future energy supply.

“However, there are a number of significant technical challenges to address for fusion energy to realise its potential. The Fusion Industry Programme is helping engage organisations and industrial partners to stimulate innovation and address these important challenges.”