Japan-UK enhance cooperation on fusion
24 July 2024
British inertial fusion energy developer First Light Fusion has hosted a delegation from the Japanese government, headed by State Minister Soichiro Imaeda from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). The visit comes as the UK and Japan seek closer collaboration on commercial fusion energy research.
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Members of the Japanese delegation are shown First Light's facilities (Image: First Light Fusion)
During the visit on 23 July, First Light held a roundtable with the Japanese delegation, led by First Light's Chief Financial Officer David Bryon and other senior members of the Board. This was followed by a tour of First Light's technological facilities, including its pulsed power facility Machine 3, the largest of its kind in Europe.
First Light said the meeting, at its headquarters in Oxford, is the latest collaboration in a deepening partnership between the UK and Japan on the rapid progression of fusion commercialisation at both a private and public sector level.
Nuclear fusion is the process by which two light nuclei combine to form a single heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy. First Light is pursuing a form of inertial confinement fusion called projectile fusion, which creates the extreme temperatures and pressures required to achieve fusion by compressing a target containing fusion fuel using a projectile travelling at a tremendous speed. This differs from approaches pursued by other mainstream fusion companies in that it does not involve using complex, energy-intensive, expensive lasers, or magnets.
As part of First Light's commercial fusion strategy, it will seek to leverage its unique amplifier technology by joining forces with other organisations with driver capabilities and nuclear engineering companies. "This offers the fastest and simplest possible route to commercial fusion energy, and with unrivalled, world-renowned expertise in nuclear engineering, Japan is positioned to be a key collaborator in that," the company said.
In April last year, the Japanese government launched its Fusion Energy Innovation Strategy - a comprehensive strategy aimed at supporting the "realisation of fusion energy as the world's next-generation energy source". Following recent technological breakthroughs, including in inertial fusion energy with the demonstration of ignition by the USA's National Ignition Facility in December 2022, the Japanese government has made fusion research a key pillar in its future energy strategy.
Part of the Japanese strategy involves greater cooperation with the UK as a leading global fusion player. In May this year, First Light attended an event in Tokyo hosted by the British Embassy which brought together the British and Japanese fusion industries and representatives from both governments.
"We are delighted to welcome State Minister Soichiro Imaeda and his team to First Light Fusion," Bryon said. "In the global fusion race, Japan is showing real leadership by delivering a government-led national fusion strategy to unlock private funding, backing inertial fusion energy as the leading viable approach to commercial fusion, and driving vital global cooperation.
"It was a pleasure to demonstrate our technological capabilities and recent advancements in our unique amplifier technology. Our amplifier technology will be key in unlocking commercially viable and affordable fusion energy at scale as part of a global clean energy mix which will help deliver on our shared 2050 net-zero target."
Researched and written by World Nuclear News