AMEC awarded engineering design contracts on fusion reactor projects

Tuesday, Jan 08, 2013

AMEC, the international engineering and project management company, has been awarded two important contracts by Fusion for Energy (F4E), the organisation responsible for providing Europe´s contribution to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) being constructed in the south of France.

The first contract, worth up to €4 million, sees AMEC and its partners deliver the concept designs for the crucial Test Blanket Module components that convert neutrons into tritium, to fuel the fusion reaction. AMEC´s partners include Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE) - the UK´s national laboratory for fusion research, Idaho National Laboratories and specialist companies including Hyde Engineering Group.

For the second contract, the value of which has not been announced, AMEC has formed a joint venture with Iberdrola Engineering and Construction, and Leading Enterprises Group of Spain, to provide engineering design services to develop a semi-prototype panel for the internal wall of the fusion reactor.

Greg Willetts, Consultancy Director in AMEC´s European Clean Energy business, said: "To help meet the global challenge for clean energy, AMEC is committed to applying our world leading reactor technology skills to develop nuclear fusion for the future, a technology that could transform the global energy landscape by producing zero carbon emission energy."

"These exciting contracts recognise AMEC´s expertise in complex engineering at the cutting edge of technology and will build on our leading expertise in fusion and materials technology. We look forward to working with our partners and F4E to successfully deliver these contracts."

Source: AMEC