Kyoto Fusioneering Awarded UKAEA Contract to Provide Dual Frequency Gyrotrons for MAST Upgrade Spherical Tokamak Experiment
Kyoto Fusioneering Ltd – a fusion technology company based in Kyoto, Japan – has been awarded a contract to provide fusion reactor technology to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). Under the contract, Kyoto Fusioneering will provide dual frequency microwave heating sources (gyrotrons) for MAST Upgrade (Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak), based at Culham, near Oxford, UK.
A key aim of MAST Upgrade – the UK’s national fusion experiment – is to inform the design of future power plants by testing technology and addressing physics issues. Kyoto Fusioneering will provide world-leading gyrotron technology and technical expertise from Japan to support a key aspect of UKAEA’s mission. Kyoto Fusioneering’s Gyrotron Division Director, Dr Keishi Sakamoto, said: “Japan has been a l eader in the development of gyrotron systems worldwide for more t han 30 years, and we are very pleased to be taking this research and development and delivering to UKAEA to support their mission t owards commercial fusion. Our next step is to develop for higher performance to lead the world in gyrotron development.”
Kyoto Fusioneering’s gyrotrons will be installed on MAST Upgrade by 2023, to be used in the next phase of its operations. Use of these gyrotrons on MAST Upgrade is also relevant to UKAEA’s STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) initiative. STEP – the UK’s flagship programme to design and build a prototype fusion power plant – will use the data and experience from the plasma heating provided by Kyoto Fusioneering’s gyrotrons on MAST Upgrade to support its design and development.
The award of this contract to Kyoto Fusioneering reaffirms the strong and practical support of fusion energy’s development by UKAEA. It also highlights the key role that international collaboration will play i n developing fusion energy for the world. Mr Taka Nagao, Co-founder and CEO of Kyoto Fusioneering, said: “We are proud to support UKAEA with its MAST Upgrade experiment, an ambitious project t hat is aligned with the STEP programme. We look forward to supporting UKAEA and providing our world-leading gyrotron expertise and technology to help accelerate the commercialization of fusion.”
About UKAEA
The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) carries out fusion energy research on behalf of the UK Government. UKAEA oversees Britain’s fusion programme, headed by the MAST Upgrade (Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak) experiment. It also hosts the world’s largest fusion research facility, JET (Joint European Torus), which it operates for European scientists under a contract with the European Commission. Fusion research at UKAEA is funded by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC – www.epsrc.ac.uk) and by the European Union under the Euratom treaty. More information: www.gov.uk/ukaea. Social media: @UKAEAofficial
About Kyoto Fusioneering
Kyoto Fusioneering is a privately funded technology start-up founded in 2019, with its headquarters in Kyoto, Japan. The company is focused on developing advanced technologies for commercial fusion reactors, with specific focus on gyrotron systems, tritium fuel cycle technologies, and breeding blankets for tritium production and power generation. The company is developing innovative reactor technology solutions that are simultaneously high-performance and commercially viable. Supporting both public and private fusion developers around the world, the company will accelerate the realisation of fusion as the ultimate energy source for humankind.
Media Contact ( English and Japanese l anguage)
media@kyotofusioneering.com
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