UK and Canada Partner on Nuclear Fusion Fuel Innovation
UK and Canada Partner to Develop Commercial-Scale Nuclear Fusion Projects
The UK and Canadian governments have joined forces to develop commercial-scale nuclear fusion projects through a new partnership. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the UK Energy Security and Canada’s Department of Energy and Natural Resources during the International Energy Agency (IEA) Ministerial meeting held in Paris.
One of the key focuses of this collaboration is the development of critical technologies for the management of tritium, an important fuel for fusion energy. This partnership builds on the announcement of the UK-US Strategic Partnership on Fusion Energy in November 2023 and will support the UK’s £650 million Fusion Futures programme.
In addition to advancing the development of fusion energy technologies, the agreement aims to reduce Europe’s nuclear fuel dependence on Russia and accelerate the transition to clean energy. It also aligns with the UK’s plans to launch the high-tech HALEU nuclear fuel program, positioning the country as the first in Europe outside Russia to do so.
Nuclear fusion is the process in which two or more light atomic nuclei combine under high temperature and pressure to form a larger nucleus, releasing large amounts of energy. This process is also how the sun and stars produce energy, earning nuclear fusion the nickname of “Artificial Sun.”
In a recent breakthrough, researchers in the UK broke the world record by producing 69 megajoules of energy with a nuclear fusion reactor, also known as an artificial sun.
The UK-Canada partnership represents a significant step forward in the development of commercial-scale nuclear fusion projects and demonstrates a commitment to advancing clean energy technologies on an international level. With both countries pooling their resources and expertise, it is hoped that this collaborative effort will contribute to the global transition towards a more sustainable and secure energy future.
