The IFMIF-DONES Programme has taken a further step forward with the signing of the first two Procurement Arrangements (PA) for Fusion for Energy’s contribution to the project. The agreements, signed in Escúzar (Granada), provide for the development of the accelerator Injector and the supply of EUROFER steel, two strategic elements for the future operation of the scientific infrastructure.

The documents were signed by Moisés Weber, director of the IFMIF-DONES España Consortium, and Marc Lachaise, director of Fusion for Energy (F4E). The ceremony was also attended by Philippe Cara, DONES Programme Manager, as well as representatives from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the Regional Government of Andalusia, the European Commission and members of the DONES programme team.

The injector, the starting point of the accelerator

One of the agreements signed concerns the Injector, an essential system for the IFMIF-DONES particle accelerator. This component is responsible for generating, accelerating and directing the deuteron beam until it reaches the energy and intensity required to enter the subsequent stages.

It plays a decisive role in ensuring the quality, stability and availability of the beam. Without this system, it would not be possible to achieve the planned irradiation performance or to ensure the efficient operation of the facility, making it one of the key elements for the scientific and technological success of the project.

EUROFER, a strategic material for fusion

The second agreement concerns the supply of EUROFER steel, a low-activation ferritic-martensitic material developed specifically for fusion applications. This steel is designed to withstand high radiation doses and high temperatures – the extreme conditions typical of future fusion reactors.

The availability of EUROFER is of strategic importance to the programme, as its production is complex and it is one of the key materials for components exposed to the fusion neutron flux, such as the Target, the High Flux Test Module (HFTM) and the Start-Up Monitoring Module (STUMM). Its use will enable the validation of technologies that are fundamental to the development of fusion energy.

A decisive boost for the programme

These two new agreements build on the four already formalised as part of Spain’s contribution to the project and represent a significant step forward in the implementation of the IFMIF-DONES Programme.

The signing of these first Procurement Arrangements under the European contribution demonstrates the European Union’s strong commitment to IFMIF-DONES and reinforces the international roadmap towards the development of fusion energy, consolidating Fusion for Energy’s role as a key partner in the construction of one of Europe’s most important scientific infrastructures in this field.