This award reflects UKAEAs confidence in our technical expertise and innovative capabilities in simulation, analysis and code development. DEMCON is included with six other companies as part of the Framework with a value up to £9m.
The EERF is part of UKAEAs mission to accelerate the commercial development of fusion energy and related technologies. Within this framework, we will provide specialized multiphysics engineering capacity for challenging projects, including the STEP programme (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) which aims to build a prototype fusion power plant by 2040.
“This tender win reinforces our position as a trusted partner in international high-tech projects,” says Bryan Verveld, business developer at Demcon multiphysics. “We are proud to contribute our knowledge and experience to the development of fusion technology while strengthening our presence in the UK market.”
The collaboration with UKAEA aligns seamlessly with Demcon multiphysics’ societal mission: to develop technological solutions for complex societal challenges. Under the EERF programme, we will contribute to solving problems in electromagnetism, mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid flow and much more.
About fusion energy
When a mix of two hydrogen species (deuterium and tritium) is heated to form a controlled plasma at extreme temperatures – 10 times hotter than the core of the sun – they fuse together to create helium and release energy which can be harnessed to produce electricity. There are multiple ways to achieve this. The approach from UKAEA is to hold this hot plasma using strong magnets in a ring-shaped machine called a ‘tokamak’, and then to harness this heat to produce electricity in a similar way to existing power station.
Read the full press release from UKAEA here.
Machine in Materials division at Culham campus - Image credit: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority