The European Commission, through Fusion for Energy (F4E), has approved an investment of €202 million for the construction and commissioning of the IFMIF-DONES particle accelerator located in Escúzar (Granada, Spain). This represents approximately 25% of the total cost of the project.

IFMIF-DONES is part of the European roadmap for developing fusion energy, a new model of clean and virtually unlimited energy—similar to the energy produced at the core of the sun and stars.

Spain’s Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, welcomed the news, stating: “We are taking firm steps in a strategic project that, with the support of the European Commission, addresses the global challenge of overcoming the energy crisis and places Spain at the forefront of fusion energy research.”

Marc Lachaise, Director of Fusion for Energy (F4E), the EU organization for fusion based in Barcelona, stated: “The approval of the European contribution to IFMIF-DONES sends a clear message: Europe is committed to making fusion energy a reality through the work of F4E teams and aspires to be a global leader in this field.”

Lachaise also added: “IFMIF-DONES is now officially part of the European fusion roadmap. With this €202 million investment, F4E will engage European industry, SMEs, and research centres through various contracts. IFMIF-DONES is a project that addresses a strategic energy technology, and the European Union has reaffirmed its strong support.”

Spain Secures Funding for IFMIF-DONES Construction

The contribution was approved during a meeting held on July 10–11 at F4E’s headquarters in Barcelona. It was conditional on Spain securing full funding for the construction of the facility, along with the establishment of an appropriate legal framework.

Both conditions have now been met, following confirmed participation by Croatia, Japan, and Italy, and the drafting of an agreement to regulate cooperation between the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the IFMIF-DONES Spain Consortium, the European Commission, F4E, and other potential international partners.

IFMIF-DONES: The Core of the DONES Programme

The IFMIF-DONES scientific infrastructure is the core element of the DONES Programme, which aims to develop a comprehensive database on fusion materials.

IFMIF-DONES is a neutron source based on a high-current particle accelerator designed to develop, qualify, and license materials capable of withstanding the extreme conditions expected in the first wall of future fusion reactors.

A key challenge in making fusion energy viable is the development of neutron-tolerant materials that can endure neutron fluxes of up to 14 MeV while maintaining their physical and structural properties over extended periods.

Currently, available data and standards for engineering materials are based on fission neutron irradiation campaigns, which do not fully cover the neutron energy levels, temperatures, or other operating conditions that fusion materials must withstand.

The IFMIF-DONES particle accelerator will generate unique experimental data that will also benefit other areas of science and technology, including medicine, nuclear physics, and various industrial applications.

The project is being implemented by the IFMIF-DONES Spain Consortium, established in 2021 through an agreement between the Government of Spain and the Regional Government of Andalusia, and attached to Spain’s General State Administration.

Source: Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.