The UK Atomic Energy Authority’s position as one of the world’s leading centres of research and expertise in tritium management has been reinforced at September’s International Conference on Tritium Science and Technology in Ottawa, Canada.
Tritium 2025 is the 14th edition of the Conference, with previous host nations including Romania (2022), Korea (2019), USA (2016), France (2013) and Japan (2010).
During the conference UKAEA signed an MOU with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and announced an intent to enter a collaboration with Kinectrics. UKAEA also led plenary sessions, presented updates on key programmes, and showcased a range of specific projects to stakeholders from across the globe.
The MOUs reinforce the strategic relationships UKAEA has built up with Canadian organisations and companies over a number of years.
OPG will discuss opportunities to work towards providing a secure and reliable supply of tritium to fuel UKAEA Group’s fusion research and energy development projects and programmes, including STEP Fusion.
Meanwhile UKAEA, Eni and Kinectrics have agreed an intent to collaborate on critical technologies and systems to enable the successful delivery of the UKAEA-Eni H3AT Tritium Loop Facility.
Within the Conference itself, Executive Director for Fusion Technology and Tritium Fuel Cycle, Stephen Wheeler, led a plenary session on the ‘UKAEA Strategy for Tritium Technology and the Realisation of a Prototype Power Plant’, with Tritium Research Portfolio Manager, Rachel Lawless, providing an ‘Overview of UKAEA’s Tritium Research Portfolio’.
JET Decommissioning and Repurposing’s Head of Waste, Xavier Lefebvre, presented an overview of that programme’s waste activities, and H3AT’s Lead Process Engineer, Sarah Bickerton provided a programme progress update.
Additional presentations were made by Mirjana Damjanovic, Emma Corlett, Brian Phelps, Helen Moore and Amany Abdul Hamid, and Steve and Rachel both contributed to further panel discussions and chaired sessions.
Delegates from UKAEA met with Natural Resources Canada, the Canadian federal government department for energy and natural resources, and Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd, the Canadian Crown corporation for nuclear science and technology. They were also hosted by the British Deputy High Commissioner.
Tritium 2025 was an incredibly positive week for UKAEA. The MOUs with OPG and Kinectrics reflect our intent to work collaboratively with who we believe can help us deliver the research and technologies which will underpin bringing fusion energy to the grid.
They also reinforce UKAEA as a leading hub of international tritium expertise, which in turn will contribute towards the UK’s scientific and knowledge economy.
The range of presentations and posters, not to mention the informal networking and conversations, also reflects the global interest in our work. Programmes such as LIBRTI, H3AT and JET’s Decommissioning and Repurposing will all have tangible and positive impacts on delivering long-term sustainable fusion energy, and help UKAEA maximise scientific and economic benefits.
A massive thank you to everyone who contributed towards a successful Conference.
– Stephen Wheeler, UKAEA Executive Director for Fusion Technology, Fuel Cycle and ITER Components
For more information about UKAEA’s tritium expertise visit www.ukaea.org/expertise