Council of Ministers authorises the creation of a consortium for Spain’s candidacy to host IFMIF-DONES in Granada

The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Junta de Andalucía will form this consortium

On the 26 May, Spain’s Council of Ministers authorised the creation of a consortium between the Spanish Government and the Regional Government of Andalucía to complete the preparation activities for Spain’s candidacy (currently led by CIEMAT) to host IFMIF-DONES. This action demonstrates Spain’s commitment to bringing the facility to Granada, a joint initiative between Spain and Croatia which has the full support of the European Fusion Program.

This project is developed under the framework of an ambitious program that the European Union is implementing to develop fusion as a source of energy, in an international cooperation with China, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the United States, partners in ITER.

Europe’s roadmap to build a Demonstration Power Plant (DEMO) involves two milestones: the construction and scientific and technological exploitation of ITER’s Tokamak in the south of France, and the construction of a neutron source, IFMIF-DONES (International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility – Demo Oriented NEutron Source) to develop, qualify and license the materials capable of resisting the extremely harsh conditions to which the components of the first wall of the future DEMO fusion reactor will be exposed.

Should Spain’s candidacy succeed, the consortium would be extended. As the host country, Spain would therefore provide support to the international organism created for the construction of IFMIF-DONES.