US General Atomics has announced a $20m, ten-year strategic investment in Canada’s Fusion Fuel Cycles (FFC. This collaboration aims to accelerate the development of UNITY-2, FFC’s tritium fuel cycle test facility, which General Atomics says is “poised to play a pivotal role in clearing the path towards commercialising fusion energy”.
FFC is a joint venture between Japan’s Kyoto Fusioneering (KF) and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL). This extended the Strategic Alliance formed between KF and CNL in September 2023, which aims to develop and deploy deuterium-tritium (D-T) fusion fuel cycle technologies. Kyoto Fusioneering was spun out of Kyoto University as Japan’s first fusion start-up in 2019. By leveraging the advanced technological and operational capabilities of the two organisations, FFC represents a strategic consolidation of expertise dedicated to engineering and delivery of large-scale fuel cycle systems for global fusion development programmes.
The first project under this initiative was UNITY-2, a fuel cycle test facility located at CNL’s Chalk River Laboratories, scheduled to be commissioned by the end of 2025 and fully operational by mid-2026. UNITY-2, a fusion test loop, is seen as complementary to KF’s UNITY-1 (formerly UNITY – Unique Integrated Testing Facility). While UNITY-1 focuses on the thermal cycle system to harness heat from the fusion core, UNITY-2 focuses on demonstrating the complete fuel cycle.
It will pioneer the full D-T fuel cycle from fuel discharge to purification and supply, demonstrating efficient tritium processing technology in relevant conditions and at relevant rates reducing risks involved in developing a fusion pilot plant (FPP). It will address key risks in an FPP’s tritium processing plant by developing and demonstrating critical enabling technologies.
General Atomics will leverage the facility’s advanced infrastructure to further its R&D on fusion components, while supporting the Canadian team in identifying the safest and most effective methods for handling, storing, and managing tritium. This work will also help to lay the foundation for developing other critical fusion systems, such as a blanket component test facility to evaluate scaled prototypes of that technology.
“Our collaboration with FFC is a pivotal step toward realising the full potential of fusion energy,” said Anantha Krishnan, senior vice president of the General Atomics Energy Group. “Developing a practical fusion power plant demands that all core systems – including the fuel cycle – operate in concert. This collaboration directly targets one of the toughest challenges and brings us closer to solving the puzzle of integrating a complete, functional fusion system.”
Dr Vivek Lall, CEO of General Atomics Global Corporation, said the partnership delivers mutual benefits. “Both General Atomics and FFC bring extensive expertise in fusion science, and this collaboration strengthens global leadership in tritium processing. GA’s investment also reflects a shared commitment to innovation-driven economic growth between the United States and Canada.”
The UNITY-2 partnership has received formal endorsement from Canada’s Federal Department for Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED), and is poised to deliver long-term economic benefits to Canada, strengthening its role as a global hub for enabling fusion technologies.
“Advancing innovation in clean energy technology is a key priority for the Government of Canada. This investment by General Atomics in Fusion Fuel Cycles, made through the Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy, will support the development of fusion energy, strengthen Canada’s competitive advantage in the green economy of the future, and create high-value jobs and economic benefits across the country,” said Mélanie Joly, the Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.
At its San Diego headquarters, General Atomics scientists and engineers collaborate with teams worldwide to solve the scientific challenges of fusion energy. It also operates the DIII-D National Fusion Facility, the US Department of Energy’s largest magnetic fusion research facility and the only US operational tokamak.
