The UK Atomic Energy Authority has allocated £1.3 million to the University of Manchester for advancing lithium technologies in fusion.
Image Credit: University of Manchester
This research aims to establish a technique for generating enriched lithium in the required volumes to create breeder blankets for deuterium-tritium fusion reactors. This process enables the production of tritium, an exceedingly rare resource, within the reactor itself. Ultimately, this solution addresses the critical challenge of fueling fusion reactors.
Under the leadership of Dr. Kathryn George, the project will be a collaborative effort involving Prof. Philip Martin, Prof. Clint Sharrad, and Dr Laurence Stamford from The University of Manchester’s Chemical Engineering Department. Additionally, it will engage Prof. Bruce Hanson from the University of Leeds and Global Nuclear Security Partners Ltd.
I am excited to be leading this ambitious, collaborative project to produce the fuel needed to make fusion power a reality. By 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.
Dr. Kathryn George, University of Manchester
In early 2023, UKAEA introduced the “Realizing the potential of lithium in an economic, sustainable, and scalable fusion energy fuel-cycle” challenge as part of its Fusion Industry Programme. This initiative encouraged organizations to create and assess prototypes of lithium technology.
As a result, UKAEA has awarded six contracts, totaling £7.4 million, to five different entities for the development of lithium technology in fusion energy. Among these recipients, four universities and one company have secured contracts ranging from £700,000 to £1.5 million under UKAEA's “Fusion Industry Programme.”
Fusion 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. The 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.
Tim Bestwick, Chief Development Officer, UK Atomic Energy Authority
Tim Bestwick adds, “The organizations that have been awarded these contracts have successfully demonstrated their lithium technology concepts and will now develop them to the ‘proof of concept’ stage.”
These recent contracts build upon earlier awards made in 2023 as part of the Fusion Industry Programme. Previously, the focus was on digital engineering and fusion fuel requirements. More recently, the program extended to cover materials and manufacturing, as well as heating and cooling technologies in the field of fusion energy.