Tungsten West enters fusion energy collaboration with Oxford Sigma
Mining company Tungsten West has entered into a strategic collaboration with Oxford Sigma to explore to use of tungsten for fusion energy deployment, the firms have announced.
The collaboration will establish critical supply pathway options enabling the use of the critical material for fusion energy deployment.
Tungsten is a raw material necessary for the commercialisation of fusion power stations, and can be found in the UK.
However, without a viable commercial pathway for the supply of tungsten from raw materials to the fusion community, the commercialisation of fusion energy faces significant delays and possible reliance on other sources of tungsten, say the firms.
The collaboration between Oxford Sigma and Tungsten West is a significant step in enabling the fusion community to access the necessary tonnage of tungsten necessary in the production of fusion energy.
Plymouth-headquartered Tungsten West is working towards restarting mining operations at its Hemerdon tungsten and tin mine, in Devon. The mine hosts the second largest tungsten resource in the world.
Tungsten is a key component required for radiation shielding and plasma-facing components within fusion energy devices.
Fusion energy, a potential near-limitless source of carbon-free energy for the future, is actively being developed to reach commercialisation with over USD $5 billion of private investment around the world.
Harwell-based Oxford Sigma is a fusion technology company, founded by fusion materials and engineering experts, that is developing fusion materials and fusion in-vessel components to ensure long-term, commercial performance, and safe operation of fusion power plants.
The company’s team are world experts in fusion materials and fusion design, with access to experimental facilities to accelerate fusion power station technology.
Neil Gawthorpe, CEO of Tungsten West said: " We are excited to enter into this collaboration agreement with Oxford Sigma which represents a significant step forward in advancing the development of sustainable and clean energy solutions.
"Tungsten is a key material required in fusion energy, essential in the lining of the reactor devices and, as we progress to production at Hemerdon, we are in a position to supply a domestic source of tungsten to the UK and abroad.
"By leveraging our combined expertise and resources with Oxford Sigma, we proud to be at the forefront of, and are poised to unlock, the full potential of tungsten for fusion energy deployment, a potentially limitless carbon free energy source for the future."
Read more: Reading firm reveals role in nuclear fusion breakthrough
Dr Thomas Davis, CTO at Oxford Sigma, said: "Commercial fusion power stations are enroute to become the ultimate energy source. We are excited to partner with Tungsten West Plc to connect the UK fusion community with the raw materials necessary to make fusion work.
"Most of the approaches to fusion that Oxford Sigma develops depend on large quantities (tonnages levels) of raw tungsten for various applications (radiation shielding, plasma-facing components, and liquid metal resistance coatings).
"By collaborating with Tungsten West, the door is open to secure this critical material supply to ensure that the country, and the world, can deploy the fusion reactors of the future."
