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Eni SpA E, the Italian energy giant, and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (“UKAEA”) have entered into a collaboration to advance fusion energy research, starting with the construction of the world's largest and most advanced tritium fuel cycle facility. The "UKAEA-Eni H3AT Tritium Loop Facility," set to be completed by 2028 at the Culham Campus in Oxford, will play a crucial role in the development of sustainable fusion power.
Tritium, a key fuel for future fusion power plants, requires efficient recovery and reuse to ensure a sustainable energy supply. The new H3AT facility will provide industry and academia with a platform to study how to process, store, and recycle tritium, a critical step in making fusion technology commercially viable.
Fusion energy replicates the sun's power generation process by fusing hydrogen isotopes under extreme heat and pressure to create helium, releasing significant amounts of emissions-free energy. If successfully scaled, fusion energy could revolutionize global energy security and decarbonization efforts.
The collaboration between Eni and UKAEA brings together extensive expertise in fusion research with large-scale project execution capabilities. Eni will use its industrial-scale engineering experience to help de-risk the project roadmap, while UKAEA will leverage its fusion R&D leadership to drive innovation.
UK Climate minister Kerry McCarthy emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating that the initiative positions the UK at the forefront of clean energy innovation. UKAEA CEO professor Sir Ian Chapman highlighted the H3AT facility as a benchmark-setting demonstration plant that will accelerate fusion fuel technology development.
Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi reinforced the company's commitment to fusion energy, calling it a game-changer for global decarbonization efforts. He stressed the importance of international technological collaborations in making fusion energy a viable solution for the future.
Eni continues to focus on sustainable energy development, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050. The company has invested heavily in research and innovation to decarbonize its energy mix, supporting a just and efficient energy transition.
UKAEA’s mission remains centered on advancing fusion energy and solving its technical challenges, from plant design to decommissioning. Through partnerships like this, the UK is strengthening its leadership in fusion research and paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.