The European Union (EU) will invest €202m ($236m) in the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility – DEMO-Oriented Neutron Source (IFMIF-DONES). The IFMIF-DONES particle accelerator, located in Escúzar (Granada), is part of the European roadmap to develop fusion energy.
The funding represents 25% of the project’s total cost and is directed through Fusion for Energy (F4E) to provide part of the technologies for this centre. Spain holds a 55% stake in the facility, Croatia 5%, and Japan 5.1%. Italy is currently finalising its stake.
The accelerator-based facility aims to simulate high-energy neutron flux within a fusion reactor environment, enabling extensive testing and qualification of materials resilient enough for use in future devices such as DEMO (the planned successor to ITER).
F4E director Marc Lachaise stated: “The approval of the European contribution to IFMIF-DONES sends a clear message: Europe is committed to harnessing the potential of fusion energy through the teams of F4E and aspires to be a leader. IFMIF DONES is now officially part of the European fusion roadmap. With this investment, F4E will involve European industry, SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises] and R&D organisations through various contracts. IFMIF-DONES tackles a strategic technology in the field of energy, and the EU has reaffirmed its support.”
F4E will collaborate with Europe’s supply chain for the manufacturing of necessary components. Europe will contribute advanced technologies, including a high-current particle accelerator, diagnostics, remote handling systems and specialised materials such as EUROFER steel. F4E is assigning staff for the programme.
Spanish Minister of Science, Innovation & Universities Diana Morant stated: “We are taking firm steps in a strategic project that addresses the global challenge of overcoming the energy crisis and places Spain and Europe at the forefront of fusion energy research.”
IFMIF-DONES is a neutron source, based on a high-current particle accelerator, for the development, qualification and licensing of materials capable of withstanding the extreme conditions to which the components of the first wall of the future fusion reactor will be exposed.
One of the key challenges to realising fusion energy is the development of neutron-tolerant materials that can withstand a neutron flux of up to 14 MeV while maintaining good physical and structural properties for extended periods.
Currently, engineering materials data, properties and standards are based on fission neutron irradiation campaigns and do not fully cover neutron energies, temperature and other operating conditions.
The IFMIF-DONES will use a particle accelerator to produce a continuous-wave deuteron (D+) beam aimed at a target made of a liquid lithium curtain. The interaction between deuterium and lithium will generate enough free neutrons to simulate the planned neutron flux over time of Europe’s DEMO, which is being designed by the DEMO Central Team at EUROfusion. Directly behind the lithium target will be the high-flux test module, which will house capsules of material samples for neutron irradiance testing.
The mission of the programme is to develop a database of fusion‐like neutron irradiation effects in the materials required for the construction of demonstration fusion power plants for benchmarking of radiation response of materials.
