US fusion firm joins UKAEA tritium project at Culham

Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) will take part in UKAEA’s flagship tritium  (a rare and radioactive isotope of hydrogen) breeding programme, known as LIBRTI, based at Culham.

The programme is developing blanket technologies to enable commercial fusion energy generation. 

LIBRTI will also provide CFS with access to a large-scale neutron source and other advanced infrastructure.

Dr Tim Bestwick, CEO of UKAEA, said: “The UK Fusion Strategy emphasises the UK’s position as a leader in fusion research while recognising the value of continued global collaboration.”

CFS is the first international company to join UKAEA’s £220 million LIBRTI programme.

Amanda Quadling, senior responsible officer for LIBRTI, said: “Welcoming CFS is a defining moment for LIBRTI.

“Their participation adds momentum to our own efforts and accelerates the global pathway to demonstrated fusion power plant scale technology.”

LIBRTI aims to produce net tritium, a key fuel component for fusion reactors, through a process known as lithium breeding.

The facility will allow industry partners to develop and validate blanket technologies under full-scale, fusion-relevant conditions.

CFS, based in Devens, Massachusetts, has raised more than US $3 billion in private capital.

The company is currently building its SPARC fusion demonstration machine and plans to launch its first commercial ARC fusion power plant in Virginia in the early 2030s.

Dr Brandon Sorbom, co-founder and chief science officer of CFS, said: “LIBRTI’s specialised testing capabilities will allow us to demonstrate net tritium production and increase confidence in our ARC blanket system design.”