Atkins was chosen by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) to design the world’s first research center for tritium fusion energy. The Hydrogen-3 state-of-the-art facility is to be built at the Culham Science Center in Oxfordshire and will support the work being done at ITER, a large fusion experiment being developed in the south of France. Tritium is a rare radioactive form of hydrogen that contains two neutrons and one proton, making it heavier than the element’s common isotope. It is used in the fusion process, in which two hydrogen atoms fuse together to form helium, resulting in a massive amount of excess energy. The same process nourishes the sun. A statement from Atkins said the new facility will also allow academic and industrial users to research how tritium is processed, stored, and recycled. The statement added that the consulting firm will work with supply chain partners, including Canadian nuclear laboratories, Ansaldo Nuclear and Flex Process, to provide the design of a number of specialized facilities within the new center, to enable a range of tests and experiments. “Fusion has the potential to provide the world with a low-carbon, unlimited and environmentally responsible energy source of the future,” said Lee Patrick, UKAEA Customer Director at Atkins. “Realizing the complexity and scale of this project, we have assembled a world-class team that is fully focused on playing their part in helping to regenerate and harness energy based on the same principle that nourishes the sun and the stars.”
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