The UK Atomic Energy Agency (UKAEA) has updated its multi-million pound engineering resource framework with seven companies in the fusion sector.
This update has successfully provided UKAEA with a four-year success in providing a wide range of fusion engineering resources to support its mission to provide fusion energy.
Valued up to £9 million, the framework supports the development of UK industrial supply chain capabilities and provides businesses with the opportunity to embed and elevate their own engineers in multiple UKAEA projects and program areas.
Gary Stables, UKAEA at Engineering Frameworks Contract Manager, explained:
Improve your fusion engineering expertise is essential to develop fusion energy and maximize the industry benefits. ”
Supports the growth of fusion ecosystems
Additionally, the framework continues to create opportunities for businesses to work together with each other in Fusion Engineering Projects, and, importantly, it can incorporate supply chains to grow the Fusion ecosystem.
Success over the past four years includes embedding more than 80 engineers into the following program areas:
Jet Decommissioning and Reuse in a Challenging Environment (JDR) Remote Application (Race) Mega-Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST) Spherical Tokamak (Step) Fusion Technology (FT) Materials Research Facility (MRF) for Upgraded Energy Production
“This framework will help accelerate the commercialization of fusion energy as it improves the ability to access technical expertise from selected industrial partners,” commented Stables.
Industry support for the integration of fusion engineering
Following the announcement, UKAEA technical leads and embedded engineers gave feedback on the benefits of the framework and successful projects.
“We are pleased to announce that Ben Quirk, senior mechanical engineer at UKAEA.
“The engineers have worked with a wide team of engineers from both within UKAEA and from partner organizations to acquire skills and know-how in the technology of manufacturing additives in the fusion market.”
Dean McGarragel, mechanical engineer at M5TEC, added:
“I also gained insight into the modern UK additive manufacturing, the material deposition technology sector, and the capabilities and constraints associated with these technologies.”
He concluded: “Working with the engineering team built into UKAEA from a wide range of companies and backgrounds has been an exciting example of cross-collaboration to advance fusion energy and position the UK as a global leader in the industry.”
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