The Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI) has awarded the joint venture formed by INGECID, Asturfeito and Empresarios Agrupados Internacional the pre-commercial public procurement contract to develop the technological validator for the test cell of the IFMIF-DONES (International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility – DEMO-Oriented Neutron Source) project.

Located in Granada, IFMIF-DONES is a scientific facility set up to support the development of clean, safe and sustainable nuclear fusion energy. Its main purpose is to test and evaluate advanced materials that can withstand the extreme conditions inside a nuclear fusion reactor, such as high temperatures and high doses of radiation. This project will assess how materials react to neutron radiation generated in an environment similar to that of a fusion reactor. The aim is to get ready for the next generation of fusion reactors, such as DEMO (Demonstration Power Plant), an intermediate step before commercial reactors are built.

The project awarded to the joint venture includes the design, manufacture, assembly and testing of a validator comprising a vacuum vessel, the lithium target, radiation shielding, service systems and an equipment control system.

The contract is co-financed by CDTI and the 2021-2027 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).