The US Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) and the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost trans-Atlantic fusion energy research.
Building on the King’s Address to Congress in April, where greater collaboration was encouraged “to write the next chapter of our joint prosperity and ensure that British and American ingenuity continues to lead the world.”
The MoU sets out a programme of collaboration spanning a wide range of fusion disciplines to support both nations’ ambitions to deliver sustainable and commercial fusion energy.
Under the agreement, PPPL and UKAEA will work together via:
- Reciprocal staff exchanges
- Access to major research facilities
- Joint projects
- Exchange of academic information
- Collaboration on ITER diagnostics
- Advanced computing programs
- and wider information sharing over the coming years.
Combining expertise “solve some of fusion’s toughest challenges”
Fulvio Militello, Executive Director of Plasma Science and Fusion Operations at UKAEA, said: “UKAEA has decades of expertise operating world-leading fusion facilities and solving complex fusion challenges. Our mission is to leverage this expertise through international partnerships to deliver sustainable fusion energy.
“This agreement with PPPL confirms the positive working relationship between the US and UK fusion communities. We look forward to combining our expertise to help solve some of fusion’s toughest challenges.”
Laura Berzak Hopkins, Associate Laboratory Director for Strategy and Partnerships, Deputy Chief Research Officer at PPPL, said: “PPPL and UKAEA have each led groundbreaking, flagship fusion experiments. This strategic partnership allows us to unite our capabilities and deliver on our shared mission of bringing fusion from the lab to the grid. It is through global partnerships like this that PPPL amplifies its impact and pushes the boundaries of fusion science.”
The agreement will focus on advancing the physics and technology basis for future fusion power plants.
