Science Vale UK Meeting – 26th May 2011CCFE is the fusion research arm of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

Fusion and Industry:Fusion and Industry:CCFE and CCFE and Culham’sCulham’s

programmeprogramme

Presented byPresented by

Derek StorkDerek StorkDirector of TechnologyDirector of Technology

UK Atomic Energy Authority, Culham Centre for Fusion EnergyUK Atomic Energy Authority, Culham Centre for Fusion Energy

Culham Science Centre, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 3DB, UKCulham Science Centre, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 3DB, UK

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Contents

• Fusion Energy – why we’re here

• Fusion facilities at Culham

• CCFE’s interaction with Industry:– Procurement of equipment for our facilities;

– ‘Fusion and Industry’ programme;

• Helping ‘Industry’ win fusion contracts from other players;

• Technology Transfer – ‘Technology Support Packages’

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Fusion Energy – why we’re hereCCFE is the Research Arm of the UK Atomic Energy Authority

To harness fusion power on Earth gases must be heated to ~ 150M ºCthe gas is then fully ionised as a ‘plasma’.

Confining the plasma in a vessel is achieved by using powerful magnetic fields in a device known as a ‘Tokamak’.

Fusion as a power source for electricity generationwould have many advantages

inexhaustible fuels; no greenhouse gases; no acid rain; small quantities of fuel (huge energy density!) little mining impact.

Nuclear Fusion powers the stars. in the centre of the Sun at 15M ºC

Hydrogen nuclei fuse to produceHelium and energy this sustains life on Earth via sunlight.

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Fusion Facilities at Culham SiteCCFE leads the UK’s Fusion Programme

You are here

MAST: Centrepiece of the UK Fusion programme

JET: Europe’s flagship fusion experiment

CCFE operates JET(Joint European Torus) – on behalf of the European

Fusion Development Agreement

– budget ~£50M per year

– scientists from all overEurope experiment on JET

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CCFE’s Interaction with Industryprocuring equipment/services for our facilities

Procuring equipment for JET & MAST – these operational facilities (with occasional upgrades) require a steady stream of equipment and services.

Recently finished JET Enhancement Project (‘EP2’)

~ 34 M€ of procurements funded

over 1/3 went to UK Industry – including large SME contracts

CCFE can help UK firms prepare for such international markets

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MAST-Upgrade Project – ‘Stage 1 Upgrade’£30M project with ~ £20M hardware procurements

• One of the few large scientific projects given the go-ahead in the difficult economic climate.

• Many technologies involved in the potential contracts.

• Procurements starting this year. CCFE will keep industry informed of opportunities

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CCFE Fusion & Industry Aims

We have two main aims:

• to assist and encourage UK companies to tender for fusion procurement and consultancy contracts especially from the next generation ITER project;

• to promote and facilitate technology transfer (TT) between fusion and industry.

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A world-wide collaboration, currently under construction in FranceConstructed by 2019

Operates to 2035

CCFE’s ITER Systems and JET programmes, intend to position ourselves and UK Industry to have key roles ITER science and technology.

ITER-the next generation fusion device(with JET to scale)

major radius = 6.2 m(2x JET)

minor radius = 2.0 m(2x JET)

Plasma volume = 837 m3

(8-10x JET)

Fusion power ≥ 500MW( ~ 30 x JET)

Plasma burn time ~ 500s(~ 50x JET)

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ITER services/systems are being procured either byITER Organisation direct or (the majority)by‘Fusion for Energy’ (F4E) the EU agency based in Barcelona.

So far UK companies have been awarded contracts worthover 150 M€ from ITER/F4E

Interested in fusion/ITER opportunities? Then you can:

• Understand the programme by visiting the ITER website(www.iter.org);

• Register your organisation on CCFE’s database (www.fusion-industry.org.uk);

• Register your organisation on F4E’s database(https://industryportal.f4e.europa.eu/default.aspx);but talk to us first!

• Respond to tenders – see (http://fusionforenergy.europa.eu/);

For further information please contact dan.mistry@ccfe.ac.ukwe can advise, put you in contact with potential consortiumpartners (UK and EU) etc.

CCFE’s Fusion & Industry Programme

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CCFE’s approach for TT

Our Second Aim is: “to promote and facilitate technology transfer between fusion and industry.”

Special Techniques Group produce the Technology Support Package (TSP) to the (mainly start-up) companies that are located in the Culham Innovation Centre. They provide:

- Technical advice;

- Access to mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering skills & technologies.

Currently 6 organisations are benefiting from our TSP. For further information contact dan.mistry@ccfe.ac.uk. In return they provide us with publicity. Many such companies have featured in our E-Zine. To receive our E-Zine please register on our website at: www.fusion-industry.org.uk.

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•Companies receiving this include:

• R2Teck: Undertaking manufacturing activities in the form of bespoke mounting boxes;

• Reaction Engines: Undertaking a wide range of brazing activities and providing some technical consultancy from time to time;

• Laplacian: generally some machining and general consultancy;

• Oxis Energy: help with equipment set ups, and advice on suppliers;

• Isis: providing brazing expertise, and in the development of bonding of some silver target assemblies;

• AMR: use of our workshop for prototyping activities.

• In return they provide us with publicity. We have featured manycompanies in our E-Zine. If you would like to receive our E-Zinethen please register on our website at: www.fusion-industry.org.uk.

CCFE’s Technical Support Package

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Plasma Probe- for use in astrophysical plasma research

Stock Exchange - Mathematical Techniques to predict financial

markets

Plasma Lamp - Improved brightness & extended of neon lamps through

inductive lighting technology

Bonas Machine Co - Improved efficiency of weaving machineRosetta Space Probe - worked with

OU to build components for the Probe.

Technology Transfer – some ‘Spin-off’ examples

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Summary

• Through CCFE, the UK has a diverse and vibrant fusion programme,which is one of the leading programmes world-wide.

• There are many opportunities to provide hardware and services to our on-site facilities and providing hardware to JET enables firms to gain a Europe-wide profile .

• There are also exciting opportunities (starting in 2011) for Industry to supply components for MAST-Upgrade.

• There are huge opportunities for UK firms in ITER. CCFE is here to help:

– inform of opportunities;– provide contact database and networking for firms;– potentially become involved in joint work for F4E and ITER IO contracts.

• CCFE can help start-up firms on site through its Technical Support Package

Pushing Fusion Power forward is both environmentally sound and apotential business opportunity for the UK (and hence our local organisations).