This year’s interns were selected from a competitive pool of applicants based on the ability to creatively solve complex problems and strong interest in the commercialisation of fusion energy.  Successful applicants for the 2023 Oxford Sigma internship programme were Abigail Harrison, Abigail Lander, and Ian Pebody. Abigail Harrison is in her second year at the University of Birmingham studying Physics. Abigail Lander is a second year Material Science undergraduate at the University of Oxford. Also at the University of Oxford is Ian Pebody, a second-year undergraduate in Engineering.

Throughout the intensive 8-week program, our talented cohort of interns immersed themselves in a range of crucial technical challenges, exploring the forefront of fusion energy research, including neutron transport modelling, liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic modelling, and the development of novel material research and development strategies for fusion blanket components.

Each student had the opportunity to take technical ownership of an aspect of the project, supported by Oxford Sigma’s expert team of scientists and engineers, building upon the company’s patented materials technologies.

Abigail Harrison presenting her internship project at the FIP Programme at UKAEA.

Oxford Sigma interns are an integral part of the team during their time with the company. We value their fresh perspective. Beyond their technical projects, the students were immersed in a range of fusion energy topics through seminars in manufacturing, plasma physics and business strategy.

Ian Pebody presenting his internship project at the FIP Programme at UKAEA.

The students visited many of Oxford Sigma’s local collaborators including First Light Fusion, Tokamak Energy, ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ISIS Neutron and Muon Source and UKAEA, and were involved in meetings with partners across the globe, including the US and Germany.

‘I have really enjoyed my time at Oxford Sigma and have gained plenty of invaluable skills for the future including improving my coding ability (especially for neutronics applications) and a wider understanding of the fusion industry. I’ve loved being able to visit many other fusion companies such as First Light Fusion, Tokamak Energy and UKAEA JET with these visits helping me to understand the breadth of fusion today and the importance of looking into fusion for the future. Working for a startup company has also allowed me to understand the business aspect of a fusion company and how the company can extend its reach. My advice for future interns is to ask lots of questions; it’s the only way you can make sure you fully understand something and to just give it a go because you are definitely more capable than you think.’

~ Abigail Harrison, Fusion Engineer Intern, Oxford Sigma

‘I’ve really enjoyed my time at Oxford Sigma and have learnt an enormous amount over 8 weeks. I’ve contributed towards the MHD modelling workflow, and greatly expanded my skills at code development and data processing, and my knowledge of fluids and MHD. I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to be involved in a friendly and exciting fusion start up, and to learn about its path into the future. Thank you to everyone at Oxford Sigma for a great summer and a fantastic experience!’

~ Ian Pebody, Fusion Engineer Intern, Oxford Sigma

‘We are proud to have hosted an exceptional cohort of interns over the summer, and I personally had the pleasure of supervising Abby and Ian in Oxford Sigma’s modelling team. Our interns not only excelled within their projects but provided a welcomed contribution to the office. Coming from a range of technical backgrounds, the students approached some of fusion’s toughest challenges with a refreshing perspective and managed to far surpass my expectations.’

~ Dr Ross Allen, Fusion Engineer, Oxford Sigma

About Oxford Sigma 
Oxford Sigma is a Fusion Technology company with a vision to tackle energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Our mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services. Oxford Sigma aims to produce advanced materials technologies, agnostic to fusion approach, for the materials ecosystem. Our fusion core materials are engineered to enable longer term operations for fusion pilot plants, with the aim of roll out to the first-of-a-kind commercial power stations. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader. The company operates in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, and Japan, with offices in the UK and USA. Our roots and headquarters are in Oxford, UK.

Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com 

This first publication of the ASME BPVC Section III (Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components) Division 4 (Fusion Energy Devices) sets the framework and path to delivering commercial fusion energy. 

Tokamak Energy Inc, the West Virginia-based U.S. subsidiary of British company Tokamak Energy Ltd, was recently selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for an award as part of its bold decadal vision for delivering commercial fusion. 

The DOE’s multimillion-dollar Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program was established to support private companies in bringing fusion energy toward technical and commercial viability. The new Division 4 within the Section III code published this summer is an important resource for fusion companies to design and construct future power plants. 

Tokamak Energy and Oxford Sigma, a fusion technology company, have contributed on the draft of the first volume of Division 4 since 2021. The collaboration supported Dr Thomas Davis, Oxford Sigma’s co-founder and CTO, to form and chair the Division 4 subcommittee titled ‘Special Working Group for Fusion Stakeholders’. The Group provides a platform to present the needs of the fusion stakeholder community in order to guide the development of the code. 

‘This big step forward will help future fusion energy power plants meet consistent industry standards. Importantly, it will reduce design risk and boost the supply chain on our mission towards delivering clean, secure and affordable fusion power in the 2030s. We are delighted to have contributed to this effort by working alongside Oxford Sigma to bring together key stakeholders across the U.S. fusion industrial community, and to kickstart the conversation about good practice in fusion power plant engineering, design and construction.’ 

~ Jack Astbury, Fusion Technology Manager, Tokamak Energy

‘It is great to see the publication of the first volume of Fusion Energy Devices construction code and standards after collaborating with Tokamak Energy for the past two years on defining the foundations for materials qualification routes and best practices in engineering design. This type of development in standards within fusion is the bedrock of enabling commercialisation of the ultimate energy source.’

~ Dr Thomas Davis, Chief Technology Officer, Oxford Sigma

The ASME BPVC provides the design and construction rules of boilers and pressure vessels worldwide, covering both nuclear and non-nuclear devices. The documents are written and maintained by chosen volunteers based on their technical expertise. Section III Division 4 is new to 2023, providing requirements for the construction of fusion energy devices.  

These requirements cover fusion energy-related components such as vacuum vessels, cryostats, superconducting magnet structures, and the interactions of these components. Related support structures, including metallic and non-metallic materials, containment or confinement structures, and in-vessel components, such as fusion-system piping, vessels, valves, pumps, and supports, are also covered. Additionally, the rules contain requirements for materials, design, fabrication, testing, examination, inspection, certification, and stamping. 

In connection to the newly published volume, Dr Davis presented its implications at the 23rd Symposium on Fusion Engineering Conference on “Fusion Codes & Standards ASME BPVC Section III Division 4” in Oxford in July. Dr Davis also authored a peer-reviewed paper titled “The need for codes and standards in nuclear fusion energy” in the special collection, “The emergence of Private Fusion Enterprises” in the Journal of Fusion Energy in May 2023. The article is available open access here. 

About Tokamak Energy  
Tokamak Energy is a leading global commercial fusion energy company based near Oxford, UK. We have an unrivalled track record designing and operating spherical tokamaks; the optimal route to commercial fusion energy.  

In addition to fusion energy, Tokamak Energy is recognised as the leader in High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) magnet design, numerical modelling, and prototyping. Our dedicated HTS magnet team, in collaboration with key manufacturing partners, is focussed on becoming the leading supplier of HTS magnets to multiple markets.   

The company, founded in 2009 as a spin-off from UK Atomic Energy Authority, currently employs a growing team of over 250 people with experts from the UK and around the world. It combines world leading scientific, engineering, industrial and commercial capabilities. The company has 70 families of patent applications and has raised $250 million, comprising $200m from private investors and $50m from the UK and US governments. Our US subsidiary, Tokamak Energy Inc, was established in 2019. Visit www.tokamakenergy.co.uk for more information. 

About Oxford Sigma 
Oxford Sigma is a Fusion Technology company with a vision to tackle energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Our mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services. Oxford Sigma aims to produce advanced materials technologies, agnostic to fusion approach, for the materials ecosystem. Our fusion core materials are engineered to enable longer term operations for fusion pilot plants, with the aim of roll out to the first-of-a-kind commercial power stations. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader. The company operates in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, and Japan, with offices in the UK and USA. Our roots and headquarters are in Oxford, UK.

Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com 

Oxford Sigma has a longstanding relationship with UKAEA through its collaborations on tungsten plasma-facing components, supporting young people through the UKAEA Fusion Industry Programme (FIP) Summer Placement Scheme, and through regular involvement in technological development of the pioneering Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme.

The new location accommodates Oxford Sigma’s growth in Oxfordshire and brings the company into the heart of the UK fusion ecosystem. UKAEA’s Culham Campus, is a powerhouse of high technology innovation and enterprise. Oxford Sigma’s presence at the campus will cement the company’s position as a technology partner on the delivery of STEP, a prototype fusion energy powerplant, which aims to generate electricity for the National Grid in the 2040s. The campus is an ideal match for Oxford Sigma’s mission to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services in order to accelerate the commercialisation of fusion energy.

‘Fusion energy is one of the greatest scientific and engineering challenges of our time, which needs public and private fusion companies to work closely with industry to help realise fusion’s potential in the global fight against climate change and energy security.

‘It is great that UKAEA and Oxford Sigma are working together to develop fusion energy, and we extend a warm welcome to the team joining our growing fusion cluster at the Culham Campus. Partnerships between UKAEA and advanced technology organisations such as Oxford Sigma are helping fusion energy on its journey to becoming a safe and sustainable part of the world’s low carbon energy supply.‘

~ Tim Bestwick, Chief Development Officer, UKAEA

‘Our longstanding relationship with UKAEA has been core to Oxford Sigma’s success both in the UK and abroad and to our growth in the fusion industry. Culham Campus represents the origin of fusion activities in the UK, and is the site of many exciting developments for the future.

We are excited to be moving onto the site and engaging with the burgeoning fusion supply chain forming around Culham Campus. The cluster of technology, engineering, and science companies that UKAEA have attracted present a genuine proposition to commercial fusion development and we are delighted to be a part of this industrial journey.’

~ Dr Thomas Davis, Co-founder and CTO, Oxford Sigma

About UK Atomic Energy Authority 
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is the UK’s national organisation responsible for the research and delivery of sustainable fusion energy. It is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. 

Fusion energy has great potential to deliver safe, sustainable, low carbon energy for generations to come. It is based on the same processes that power the Sun and stars, and would form part of the world’s future energy mix. Achieving this is a major technical challenge that involves working at the forefront of science, engineering, and technology. 

UKAEA’s programmes include the MAST-Upgrade (Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak) fusion experiment and the JET (Joint European Torus) fusion research facility. JET is operated by UKAEA at its Culham Campus near Oxford, on behalf of EUROfusion scientists and engineers.  

STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is UKAEA’s ambitious programme to accelerate the delivery of fusion energy, with plans to deliver a prototype powerplant producing net electricity in the 2040s in Nottinghamshire. 

In 2021, UKAEA opened its Fusion Technology Facility near Rotherham in South Yorkshire, to develop and test materials and components for future fusion powerplants.  

UKAEA also undertakes cutting edge work with academia, other research organisations and the industrial supply chain in a wide spectrum of areas, including robotics and materials. 

More information: https://www.gov.uk/ukaea. Social Media: @UKAEAofficial    

About fusion energy
When a mix of two forms of hydrogen (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 is more than one way of achieving this. UKAEA’s approach is to hold this hot plasma using strong magnets in a ring-shaped machine called a ‘tokamak’. The energy created from fusion can be used to generate electricity in the same way as existing power stations.

About Oxford Sigma
Oxford Sigma is a fusion technology company tackling energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Oxford Sigma’s mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services in order to accelerate the commercialisation of fusion energy. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader within the market. The company operates in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, and Japan.

Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com

Focused Energy has developed a revolutionary direct-drive proton fast ignition technology for inertial confinement fusion energy. As a fusion technology company, Oxford Sigma works on the development of fusion materials and in-vessel component design to ensure long-term and safe operation of fusion power plants. Oxford Sigma will be developing the power station design and management schemes with Focused Energy in order to accelerate the deployment of this world-changing technology.

Focused Energy is a fusion energy company based in the USA and Germany with strong academic background, underpinning the simple, yet flexible approach to inertial fusion energy. Their technology builds on the same principles as the breakthroughs discovered at the National Ignition Facility (NIF), where the world’s first fusion energy multiplication was achieved through laser driven D-T fusion. Focused Energy’s novel direct-drive proton fast-ignition technology takes this technology to commercially relevant regimes, with the ability to effectively inject huge amounts of laser energy directly into a fusion target, combined with an extensive research program on the laser technology and pulsed power technology development.

Oxford Sigma is a fusion technology company, founded by fusion materials and engineering experts, with the mission to deliver materials technology and design solutions to accelerate the commercialisation of fusion energy. Based in Oxfordshire, UK, the company’s team are world experts in fusion materials and fusion design, with access to experimental faculties to accelerate fusion power station technology.

‘Oxford Sigma’s technical services will help and support our current and growing team in the development of Inertial Fusion Energy. Their expertise in reactor design and materials in Fusion will help deliver our Quasar CDR (Concept Design Report), which is a key task supporting evidence to our TRL (Technology Readiness Levels) deliverable requirement’.

~Thomas Forner, CEO, Focused Energy

‘Commercial fusion power stations are on a critical pathway to become the ultimate energy source, and Focused Energy’s inertial-conferment fusion technology is on its way towards first place. This long-term strategic collaboration between Oxford Sigma and Focused Energy demonstrates that partnerships combining unique skill sets, backgrounds, expertise, and locations are the way forward to delivering on this carbon-free, long-term energy source.‘

~ Jonathan Musgrove, CEO, Oxford Sigma

About Focused Energy
Focused Energy is a German American company spun off from the Technical University of Darmstadt in 2021 that will enable safe, clean, and virtually inexhaustible energy production through laser-based nuclear fusion in just a few years. The young company is based in Darmstadt/Germany and in Austin/Texas and employs the best minds from relevant research institutes and universities in Europe and the USA. Focused Energy uses the experience of its founders gained over the past 30 years in fusion research, coupled with the speed of a young German American company and private investment, to bring laser-based fusion to market and satisfy the world’s hunger for energy.

About Oxford Sigma
Oxford Sigma is a fusion technology company tackling energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Oxford Sigma’s mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services in order to accelerate the commercialisation of fusion energy. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader within the market. The company operates in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, and Japan.

Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com

The collaboration between Oxford Sigma and Golden Metal Resources Plc is a significant step in enabling the fusion community to identify new sustainable tungsten sources in the world. Without a viable commercial pathway for the supply of tungsten from raw materials to the fusion community, the commercialisation of fusion energy faces significant delays and possible reliance on sources of tungsten. Oxford Sigma’s development of tungsten alloys for fusion energy and focus on producing sustainable fusion materials combined with Golden Metal Resources’ preparedness to provide the fusion community with the tonnage of tungsten required for commercialisation together represent the type of international collaborations necessary for making a global fusion future reality.

Golden Metal Resources is a UK-based publicly traded (AIM:GMET) exploration and development Company which controls 100% of the Pilot Mountain Project located in the state of Nevada which is believed to host the largest undeveloped tungsten deposit within the United States of America. Golden Metal along with its partners, including Oxford Sigma, is looking to develop and secure reliable western world supply chains for the important energy metal including tungsten raw materials for use within the nuclear fusion industry.

Oxford Sigma is a fusion technology company that develops fusion materials and fusion in-vessel components to ensure long-term, commercial performance, and safe operation of fusion power plants. The company is developing reliable tungsten-based radiation shielding and plasma-facing components for the fusion industry. The strategic memorandum of understanding with Golden Metal Resources Plc is a perfect mutual combination of skills and assets in support of Oxford Sigma’s development of a tungsten raw materials supply chain for fusion energy needs.

‘The amount of tungsten that will be required within the fusion energy industry is quite staggering. With the signing of the MOU, we at Golden Metal very much look forward to working collaboratively with Oxford Sigma on further developing western world critical metal supply pathways in order to help meet the future tungsten requirements within this extremely important and rapidly developing technology.‘

~ Oliver Friesen, CEO of Golden Metal Resources PLC

‘Commercial fusion power stations are on the path to become the ultimate terrestrial energy source. We are excited to partner with Golden Metal Resources Plc to connect the fusion community with the strategic raw tungsten supply necessary to make fusion work. Most of the approaches to fusion that Oxford Sigma is supporting depend on large quantities (hundreds of tonnes) of raw tungsten for various applications (radiation shielding and plasma-facing components). By collaborating with Golden Metal Resources, Oxford Sigma is on the path to establishing a sustainable tungsten supply for the world’s growing fusion industry.’

~ Dr Thomas Davis, Co-founder and CTO of Oxford Sigma

About Golden Metal Resources
Golden Metal Resources plc is an AIM listed precious and strategic metal exploration and development Company which controls five highly prospective interests in mining friendly Nevada, which includes 100% ownership of Pilot Mountain which is believed to host the largest undeveloped tungsten resource in the United States of America.

Golden Metal can be reached at info@goldenmetalresources.com and further information is available at https://www.goldenmetalresources.com/

About Oxford Sigma
Oxford Sigma is a fusion technology company tackling energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Oxford Sigma’s mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services in order to accelerate the commercialisation of fusion energy. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader within the market. The company operates in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, and Japan.

Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com

Dr Thomas Davis, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Oxford Sigma, presented a talk on ‘Fusion Codes & Standards: American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME BPVC) Section III Division 4 (Fusion Energy Devices)’ where Oxford Sigma’s contributions to the topic were presented with support from Tokamak Energy Ltd and ASME. The goals of Division 4 were presented, and the requirements needed from the fusion community were discussed. This type of development in standards within fusion is the bedrock of enabling commercialisation of the ultimate energy source.

In order to demonstrate our position within the fusion community as a Fusion Technology company, Oxford Sigma also presented two posters; these were on ‘Oxford Sigma’s Materials Technology for Fusion Energy’ and the ‘Suppression of Rhenium and Osmium Production in Tungsten by Selective Isotopic Enrichment’.

The posters initiated key conversations between fellow attendees who were eager to understand more about Oxford Sigma’s technology development activities.

The posters also provided a platform to communicate the company’s research with collaborators including Bangor University, Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and the University of Birmingham. The poster on the ‘Suppression of Rhenium and Osmium Production in Tungsten by Selective Isotopic Enrichment’ aimed at demonstrating the improvements that could be made through isotopic tailoring of tungsten, including an improvement in the service life of power reactors. The poster on ‘Oxford Sigma’s Materials Technology for Fusion Energy’ demonstrated the various avenues of technology development the company is undertaking including (but not exclusive to):

• Isotopic tailoring of tungsten and tungsten alloys;
• Novel testing rig for high temperature operations;
• Magnetohydrodynamics simulation developments;
• Self-healing blanket materials;
• Novel liquid lithium coatings;
• and Fusion component design optimisation software development.

“As a Fusion Technology company, it is important to Oxford Sigma to engage with and contribute to the necessary discussions and innovative ideas that come from industry-wide gatherings such as SOFE. We were also pleased to sponsor SOFE in bringing together the world’s fusion experts right here to our back garden in Oxford.

Presenting on the ASME BPVC Section III Division 4 construction code and standard’s first volume was also timely given its release this July 2023. This type of development in standards within fusion is the bedrock of enabling commercialisation of the ultimate energy source because it could define the routes for materials qualification and best practices in engineering design.”

~ Dr Thomas Davis, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Oxford Sigma

About Oxford Sigma
Oxford Sigma tackles energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Oxford Sigma’s mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services in order to accelerate the commercialisation of fusion energy. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader within the market.

Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com

The plasma-facing components of a fusion energy machine must protect the rest of the components from the extreme heat loads and neutron damage imparted by the plasma. It is an actively cooled component often containing sacrificial sections that are designed to melt during occurrences when the plasma touches the wall. Traditional plasma-facing component designs consisting of tungsten armour on a steel or copper heatsink present many manufacturing challenges for implementation on a large-scale tokamak, like STEP, mainly due to the materials’ differences in heat expansion coefficients and thermal heat conductivity properties. Oxford Sigma has identified suitable manufacturing pathways for using novel tungsten alloys for the complex plasma-facing component design. These novel tungsten alloys could eliminate the need for challenging dissimilar material joins and be included in future fusion power stations like STEP to improve the performance and operational lifetime of the plasma-facing components.

The Oxford Sigma team are experts in fusion materials and are developing novel materials solution for fusion components, such as first-walls and breeder blankets. The company is leading the development of the ASME BPVC fusion construction code and collaborating with multiple national laboratories on the standardisation of fusion materials qualification. This collaboration between Oxford Sigma and UKAEA demonstrates the growth and maturity in engineering design of fusion in the UK with the aim of an accelerated commercialisation by 2040.

‘The advanced materials and geometries that may be required for devices in STEP present serious challenges, and opportunities for manufacturing. We are delighted to have been able to support UKAEA in exploring their methods of manufacture for these components.‘

~ Dr Alasdair Morrison, Technology Manager

‘There are a number of significant engineering and manufacturing challenges to resolve to realise fusion, alongside the science of fusion itself. Our work with Oxford Sigma will start to address some of these challenges, building on existing knowledge to positively influence component design to ensure manufacturability.‘

~ Karyn Eden, UKAEA’s STEP Manufacturing Readiness Lead

About UK Atomic Energy Authority 
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is the UK’s national organisation responsible for the research and delivery of sustainable fusion energy. It is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. 

Fusion energy has great potential to deliver safe, sustainable, low carbon energy for generations to come. It is based on the same processes that power the Sun and stars, and would form part of the world’s future energy mix. Achieving this is a major technical challenge that involves working at the forefront of science, engineering, and technology. 

UKAEA’s programmes include the MAST-Upgrade (Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak) fusion experiment and the JET (Joint European Torus) fusion research facility. JET is operated by UKAEA at its Culham Campus near Oxford, on behalf of EUROfusion scientists and engineers.  

STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is UKAEA’s ambitious programme to accelerate the delivery of fusion energy, with plans to deliver a prototype powerplant producing net electricity in the 2040s in Nottinghamshire. 

In 2021, UKAEA opened its Fusion Technology Facility near Rotherham in South Yorkshire, to develop and test materials and components for future fusion powerplants.  

UKAEA also undertakes cutting edge work with academia, other research organisations and the industrial supply chain in a wide spectrum of areas, including robotics and materials. 

More information: https://www.gov.uk/ukaea. Social Media: @UKAEAofficial 

About STEP
Through the STEP programme UKAEA is working on the delivery a fusion powerplant prototype targeting 2040 for delivery of fusion derived electrical power onto the nation grid. As well as delivering this prototype powerplant STEP is also acting as a catalyst to build a workforce within the UK with the skills required to design, build and operate such powerplants and to become leaders in the field of fusion energy production. For further information please visit us at www.step.ukaea.uk

About Oxford Sigma
Oxford Sigma tackles energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Oxford Sigma’s mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services in order to accelerate the commercialisation of fusion energy. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader within the market. The company operates in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, and Japan.

Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com

Tungsten West is working towards restarting mining operations at its Hemerdon tungsten and tin mine, in Devon, United Kingdom. The mine hosts the second largest tungsten resource in the world. Tungsten is a key component required for radiation shielding and plasma-facing components within fusion energy devices. Fusion energy, a potential near-limitless source of carbon-free energy for the future, is actively being developed to reach commercialisation with over USD $5 billion of private investment around the world.  

Oxford Sigma is a fusion technology company, founded by fusion materials and engineering experts, that is developing fusion materials and fusion in-vessel components to ensure long-term, commercial performance, and safe operation of fusion power plants. Based in Oxfordshire, UK, the company’s team are world experts in fusion materials and fusion design, with access to experimental facilities to accelerate fusion power station technology.

The company has an established record of developing reliable tungsten-based radiation shielding and plasma-facing components for the fusion industry. The   strategic collaboration with Tungsten West is a perfect mutual combination of skills and assets in order to secure the source of this raw material right here in the UK with the goal of deploying these tungsten-based components in both the UK and abroad.

 

‘We are excited to enter into this collaboration agreement with Oxford Sigma which represents a significant step forward in advancing the development of sustainable and clean energy solutions. Tungsten is a key material required in fusion energy, essential in the lining of the reactor devices and, as we progress to production at Hemerdon, we are in a position to supply a domestic source of tungsten to the UK and abroad.

By leveraging our combined expertise and resources with Oxford Sigma, we proud to be at the forefront of, and are poised to unlock, the full potential of tungsten for fusion energy deployment, a potentially limitless carbon free energy source for the future.’

~ Neil Gawthorpe, CEO, Tungsten West PLC

‘Commercial fusion power stations are enroute to become the ultimate energy source. We are excited to partner with Tungsten West Plc to connect the UK fusion community with the raw materials necessary to make fusion work. Most of the approaches to fusion that Oxford Sigma develops depend on large quantities (tonnages levels) of raw tungsten for various applications (radiation shielding, plasma-facing components, and liquid metal resistance coatings). By collaborating with Tungsten West, the door is open to secure this critical material supply to ensure that the country, and the world, can deploy the fusion reactors of the future.‘

~ Dr Thomas Davis, CTO, Oxford Sigma

About Tungsten West

Tungsten West, headquartered in Plymouth, Devon, is focused on the responsible and sustainable restart of the Hemerdon tungsten and tin mine in Devon.  The Hemerdon mine is one of the world’s largest CRIRSCO compliant tungsten resources, hosting a Mineral Resource Estimate of 351.5 Mt at 0.12% WO3 and 0.03% Sn. The AIM listed company is focused on bringing value to its stakeholders and contributing to the domestic supply of critical metals. Tungsten West is committed to promoting STEM subjects and careers in the mining sector. 

About Oxford Sigma

Oxford Sigma tackles energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Oxford Sigma’s mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services in order to accelerate the commercialisation of fusion energy. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader within the market. The company operates in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, and Japan.

Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com

Andrew Bowie, Minister for Nuclear and Networks, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, explained that the UK is becoming the ‘global hub for fusion innovation’ and that ‘fusion has the potential to be the ultimate clean power solution, offering a low-carbon, safe, continuous, and sustainable source of energy.’ Minister Bowie claimed that ‘working with the private sector is vital to take fusion from vision to reality.’ To this aim, he said that ‘the UK is already playing a pivotal role in the growth of private fusion’ as he highlighted Oxford Sigma as one of the successful home-grown ‘firms fostered here in the UK’ with our expansion of ‘operations to markets such as the USA, Canada, Japan, and across Europe.’ 

During the meeting, Oxford Sigma’s Technology Manager, Alasdair Morrison, spoke on the panel discussing fusion skills and innovation, talent pipeline, investment and financing, R&D, international collaboration, security and other challenges.  

‘Materials is an international problem. Everyone is going to need materials and the challenges are definitely global… Going from that understanding of the science into something that is an engineered solution, that has a safety assurance and the materials properties at its heart, whether that means qualifying materials or having materials that you can actually get in the supply chain now, are really severe challenges to overcome. That’s something that we are addressing on a daily basis.’  

~ Alasdair Morrison, Technology Manager, Oxford Sigma

To watch the full recording of the webinar, visit the Assystem webpage here. 

About Oxford Sigma 

Oxford Sigma tackles energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Oxford Sigma’s mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services in order to accelerate the commercialisation of fusion energy. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader within the market. The company operates in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, and Japan. 

Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com 

Dr Davis’ 4-year role on the IAEA’s “Towards the Standardization of Small Specimen Test Techniques for Fusion Applications – Phase II” is to guide and provide expertise to ensure that the standard is fit for purpose in enabling nuclear code qualification of key fusion reduced-activation structural materials, such as EUROFER and F82H. These two steels are leading structural materials for fusion in-vessel components, such as divertors, breeder blankets, and first-wall structure. Dr Davis’ is a contributing member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)’s Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) III Division 4 (Rules for Construction of Fusion Energy Devices). Division 4 has been approved for publication in the ASME BPVC 2023 edition. He is the chairman of the ASME BPVC Section III Division 4 Special Working Group for Fusion Stakeholders. 

This co-ordinated research project seeks to provide a set of guidelines for SSTT based on common agreed best practices on main test techniques (tensile, creep, low cycle fatigue, fracture toughness, fatigue crack growth rate) for reference structural fusion materials to provide the basis for a full standardization of the SSTT. This effort already started in the earlier co-ordinated research project, Towards the Standardization of Small Specimen Test Techniques for Fusion Applications (F13017), which was concluded in 2021.

The specific Research Objectives are:

• Continuation of the supporting experimental programme (“Intercomparison exercise from different laboratories”) for the respective test methods. The focus is on the applicability of guidelines and methodologies drafted so far under high temperature conditions and suited for hot cell environment as well as closing gaps in the output of CRP F13017 that are specific for the respective test methods addressed.

• To establish reference guidelines for tensile, creep, low cycle fatigue, fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth rate tests using small specimens for RAFM steels. A focus will be on achieving a firm basis for test results at elevated temperatures. Formulation of guidelines will follow criteria and practice from well-established standards like ASTM or ISO.
• To establish guidelines for the use of SSTT taking into account the need of integrating these elements or data gathered from SSTT into nuclear code frameworks.

‘Commercial fusion power stations are on a critical pathway to enabling the carbon-free energy source which the world needs now more than ever. IAEA’s small specimen test techniques (SSTT) Coordinated Research Program is a key step in ensuring these commercial fusion power stations have access to fusion materials qualification for safe use by maximizing the potential of the limited availability of neutron irradiation sources worldwide. I am pleased to support this CRP in the production of a standard that can be used for materials qualification in appropriate codes and standards, such ASME BPVC.’

~ Dr Thomas Davis, CTO, Oxford Sigma

About Oxford Sigma

Oxford Sigma tackles energy security and climate change by accelerating the development of fusion and advanced nuclear energy. The company aims to develop enabling materials technologies in fusion energy, develop materials for extreme environments, and provides design services to accelerate and achieve commercialisation. Internationally recognised as a highly technical SME, our growing team of engineers and scientists play an active role in the emerging supply chain ecosystem within the UK, USA and EU for fusion energy and advanced nuclear energy. Please do get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com

What participants say about the Oxford Sigma Fusion Energy Engineering Training Course:

‘The topics covered were relevant and well-tailored to us… The course was in-depth and allowed the team to engage with a knowledgeable member of the fusion community.’

‘The course was really informative and Oxford Sigma is clearly very knowledgeable about a huge range of topics in and around fusion technologies, infrastructure, commerce, etc. Interaction and the ability to answer a range of questions on various topics was great.’

‘The course provides a great deal of information and can be used for both a background understanding of fusion as well as a reference for further depth topics such as material selection.’

Oxford Sigma takes pride in our part to support a wide-ranging learning audience, from seasoned engineers to the next generation of fusion experts. As such, the learning experience is tailored to match the background and goals of each organisation receiving our Training Course. The Training Course consists of lectures, discussions, and dedicated Q&A sessions. Topics covered include tokamak design, fusion power station design, fusion materials, fusion safety, regulation, breeder blanket design, plasma facing components, plasma heating systems, radiation damage effects on components, and nuclear waste generation.

‘We engaged with Oxford Sigma to deliver this training, having previously worked with them on other projects and knowing how knowledgeable they are with regards to fusion engineering. The main aim of the training was to educate our engineers on the background of fusion energy and the key considerations when designing components for use in a fusion environment. This was mainly intended for our engineers who come from other high assurance industries with no prior knowledge of fusion. It’s safe to say however, that even those with an understanding of fusion learned more about the industry through the lectures and one to one discussions with Tom at Oxford Sigma.’

~ Craig Chalder, Managing Director, M5tec

‘It was great to contribute to the continued professional education of the M5tec team with the Oxford Sigma Fusion Energy Engineering Training Course. In tailoring this course to M5tec, our goal has been to provide a valuable asset to the team’s already established unique skill set. M5tec impressively makes a habit of pushing intellectual boundaries and this should be a goal of every organisation, especially those in the fusion community.’

~ Dr Thomas Davis, President & CTO, Oxford Sigma

About M5tec
M5tec are a multidiscipline engineered solutions provider and consultancy located in County Durham, England. Their team consists of experienced and enthusiastic engineers who are dedicated to supplying high-assurance industries with new and innovative solutions to engineering challenges and committed to delivering engineering excellence on every project. They have a strong history in designing engineered solutions for operation within hazardous environments including fusion, nuclear and subsea. For further information please visit https://m5tec.com or email at enquiries@m5tec.com.

About Oxford Sigma
Oxford Sigma tackles energy security and climate change by accelerating the development of fusion and advanced nuclear energy. The company aims to develop enabling technologies in fusion and nuclear energy, develop materials for extreme environments, and advise these industries to accelerate and achieve commercialisation. Internationally recognised as a highly technical SME, our growing team of engineers and scientists play an active role in the emerging supply chain ecosystem within the UK, USA and EU for fusion energy and advanced nuclear energy. Please do get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com.

Nuclear fusion is the natural physical process whereby two atomic nuclei bind together releasing large amounts of usable energy, a process observed in stars, with the potential of near limitless clear energy if recreated on earth. Commercially and technologically, the fusing of deuterium and tritium isotopes (D-T fusion) is the most promising option. Deuterium is naturally abundant and easily extractable from water, while tritium is extremely scarce. As a result, nuclear fusion reactors require tritium to be continuously bred during operation, to offset that consumed in the fusion reactions. The process of breeding tritium is performed in devices called breeder blankets which surround the fusion reactor core. Breeder blanket designs are optimised to enable the neutrons emitted in the fusion reaction, to interact with lithium in the blanket, breaking up and forming the tritium fuel. To date, no breeder blankets have been coupled to fusion machines during operation. With a significant number of challenges facing the design of these devices due to the extreme environments in a fusion reactor. During operation, breeder blankets experience extreme radiation damage, high operational temperatures, strong magnetic fields, a corrosive liquid metal coolant environment, and tritium permeation through the structure. Blanket development is key to enabling fusion energy as a source of electricity; and solving the technical challenges of constructing and operating a commercially relevant blanket is essential for fusion energy to be successful.

Oxford Sigma has a track record of developing novel solutions in materials and in-vessel components, such as breeder blankets. Oxford Sigma has its own patented technology in breeder blanket design and is collaborating on alloy development with Singapore University of Design and Technology to rapidly screen prototype tungsten alloys across a large compositional range. The company also holds strong links with the University of Oxford on developing key fusion materials technology.

The outcome of this investment will enable Oxford Sigma to:

• Expand identified candidate materials testing within a high-temperature liquid lithium environment to further investigate corrosion performance within a liquid lithium breeder blanket for fusion energy.

• Conduct high-performance nuclear physics simulations on identified materials to study the impact of neutron irradiation on material properties, safety, and waste production in a fusion relevant environment.

Oxford Sigma is on a path to commercialise liquid lithium corrosion resistant technology to enable liquid metal breeder blanket and coolants to be commercially successful. To discover how this technology will be beneficial to you and your organisation, contact Oxford Sigma at info@oxfordsigma.com.

“Oxford Sigma is innovating in key enabling materials technologies for fusion energy. Oxford Sigma’s team has identified candidate materials to withstand the harsh corrosive environment and this will be a key enabling technology for fusion energy; in particular, within liquid metal breeder blankets.” 

~ Dr Thomas Davis, CTO, Oxford Sigma

About Oxford Sigma

Oxford Sigma tackles energy security and climate change by accelerating the development of fusion and advanced nuclear energy. The company aims to develop enabling technologies in fusion and nuclear energy, develop materials for extreme environments, and advise these industries to accelerate and achieve commercialisation. Internationally recognised as a highly technical SME, our growing team of engineers and scientists play an active role in the emerging supply chain ecosystem within the UK, USA and EU for fusion energy and advanced nuclear energy. Please do get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com