Five contracts that will shape the future of fusion devices

F4E’s Technology Development Programme (TDP) is taking its first steps to advance key technologies for future fusion power plants. Following the launch of two pilots last year, F4E has signed the first five contracts with different European suppliers. Essentially, F4E will procure R&D activities, inviting different suppliers to develop and test solutions paving their way to commercialisation. This pre-commercial procurement approach is typically used when no market-ready solutions exist.

The first case focuses on advanced plasma-facing materials. Whilst ITER’s inner wall will use tiles of pure tungsten attached to copper, future reactors may need to integrate materials like copper alloys underneath to sustain prolonged heat loads. To address this, F4E’s suppliers will work to demonstrate a way to manufacture a gradient joint between the tungsten and copper alloy using 3D printing. The selected companies are Freemelt, from Sweden, in collaboration with German research centre Fraunhofer; RHP, in Austria; and the Spanish Leading, with Tecnalia as subcontractor.  

“By engaging with different companies, we diversify the methods, increase the chances of success and broaden the knowledge spillover,” says Stefan Wikman, Head of Materials, Manufacturing and Metrology at F4E. These pilot contracts reflect the spirit of the TDP: bridging the knowledge gap to master new technologies that will be part of next-generation fusion reactors.

The second case involves a wearable monitor for tritium concentration in air. This device, not yet available on the market, could help personnel in fusion facilities detect in real time if they are breathing contaminated air. The French company Mirion and Spanish research centre Tekniker will manufacture and test their respective prototypes for F4E. “Given the increased number of fusion reactors using tritium as fuel, the demand for technologies to monitor and handle it safely is expected to grow,” explains Giovanni Piazza, Project Manager at F4E.

In parallel, the TDP is getting ready for the next rounds of calls. F4E is working to identify other relevant technologies and rank priorities, based on the input from experts and companies across Europe. Last month, F4E hosted more than 150 participants in a workshop co-organised with EUROfusion to exchange ideas on fuel cycle technologies. More technology roadmapping workshops will follow soon, with next one dedicated to AI and fusion in April and May. All this input will feed into a series of thematic reports, presenting the technologies’ state of play in Europe and a roadmap for future R&D investments.  Besides, F4E collected more than 160 proposals through an online Call for Abstracts on key enabling technologies for fusion.