Breakthrough Collaboration Between UKAEA and CNL to Develop Hydrogen Isotope Management for Nuclear Fusion

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) have combined efforts to collaborate on technologies for the management of hydrogen isotopes for nuclear fusion.

Nuclear fusion, the process occurring in stars where pairs of atoms are heated and forced together to create a heavier atom and release energy, is being investigated as a potential future energy source. In contrast to nuclear fission, which involves splitting atoms apart.

According to the collaboration framework agreement, the partnership will concentrate on tritium management within the fusion cycle, ensuring the safe removal, processing, and reinjection of fuel into plasma continuously. Tritium, a hydrogen atom with two neutrons in the nucleus and one proton, is naturally produced in the upper atmosphere when cosmic rays hit nitrogen molecules, and is also a by-product of nuclear reactors and nuclear weapon detonations.

The management of tritium is a critical aspect of the fusion fuel cycle, requiring the isotope to be separated from other hydrogen isotopes in the exhaust gas for recycling and reuse as fusion fuel.

The initial project under the collaboration will involve the analysis of candidate materials for isotope separation at both CNL’s Chalk River, Ontario, facilities and the UKAEA’s facilities in Culham, Oxfordshire.

The UK and Canadian governments have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on fusion energy, reinforcing their commitment to advancing the development of nuclear fusion as a clean and sustainable energy source.

Stephen Wheeler, Executive Director of the UKAEA, stressed the significance of tritium as a “key fuel” for fusion energy, highlighting the vital role of developing technologies for its handling and reprocessing in the delivery of clean energy.

Ian Castillo, Head of Hydrogen and Tritium Technologies at CNL, highlighted the organisation’s “extensive expertise” in the safe operation of facilities, storage, and management of tritium.

The UK-Canadian developments follow the 2022 breakthrough in the US, where scientists successfully produced energy from nuclear fusion in a laboratory for the “first time.” While the output was modest at 3.15MJ of fusion energy, it is a significant step forward in making nuclear fusion a key pathway to future energy production.

Hydrogen played a crucial role in the US nuclear fusion breakthrough, as scientists at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in California used powerful laser systems to create temperatures and pressures akin to those in the core of stars to initiate a fusion reaction.

Elina Teplinsky, Partner and Nuclear Energy and Hydrogen Expert at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, expressed optimism about the commercial viability of fusion, stating that although fusion is not yet commercially available today, it could potentially play a role in future hydrogen production. The development in the US is viewed as a turning point in demonstrating the potential of fusion energy, with possibilities of fusion being paired with hydrogen production in the future.

In conclusion, the collaboration between the UKAEA and CNL represents a significant step forward in the development of technologies for the management of hydrogen isotopes in nuclear fusion. With ongoing advancements in this field, nuclear fusion holds promise as a safe, low-carbon, and sustainable energy source for the future.