Fusion Materials Implementing Agreement
Stored: Fusion Materials Implementing Agreement
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | International Energy Agency |
| Top Organization | International Energy Agency |
| Creation Legislation | None |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | The Fusion Materials Implementing Agreement advances fusion energy by researching radiation damage effects on materials for future fusion reactors. It aims to develop and qualify durable materials through international collaboration, supporting the scientific foundation for fusion power deployment. |
| Program Start | 1980 |
| Initial Funding | Not publicly specified |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
The Fusion Materials Implementing Agreement, established in 1980 by the International Energy Agency (IEA), fosters global cooperation to study and mitigate radiation damage in fusion reactor materials, involving key participants like the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM), Japan, and the United States.
Coordinated under the IEA’s Fusion Power Coordinating Committee (FPCC), it focuses on materials testing under neutron irradiation, contributing to projects like the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF) and supporting fusion devices such as ITER through shared research and data.[1] With over four decades of activity, it has shaped fusion material science, remaining active in 2025 to address challenges like tritium breeding blankets, critical for next-generation reactors.
Goals
- Characterize and mitigate radiation damage in fusion materials for reactor durability.
- Develop internationally validated material standards for fusion power systems.
- Support fusion device design through collaborative R&D and testing.[2]
Organization
The Fusion Materials Implementing Agreement operates under the IEA’s Committee on Energy Research and Technology (CERT), overseen by the FPCC, with no single top organization due to its multilateral nature. An Operating Agent—often a designated research entity like EURATOM—coordinates efforts among member countries, leveraging IEA’s framework.[3] Funding is provided by participants, supporting joint experiments and workshops.
History
Launched in 1980 following EURATOM’s proposal, the agreement addressed the need for fusion materials resilient to neutron damage, formalized by the IEA Governing Board on May 12, 1980.[4]
It supported early material tests for tokamaks and evolved with IFMIF’s planning in the 1990s, hosting workshops like the 1998 Risø event to strategize R&D. By 2025, it continues to inform ITER and DEMO material needs, adapting to fusion’s maturing landscape.
Funding
Initial funding in 1980 was not publicly detailed, contributed by member states like EURATOM, Japan, and the U.S., with ongoing support drawn from national fusion budgets—e.g., U.S. DOE’s $760 million in FY 2023.[5] Costs fund irradiation testing and IFMIF development, with no set end as it aligns with fusion energy goals.
Implementation
The program conducts collaborative material irradiation studies, using facilities like fission reactors and planning IFMIF, with data shared via IEA networks.[6] It progresses through joint experiments and FPCC oversight, remaining active to support fusion reactor material readiness with no fixed end date.
Related
External links
- https://www.iea.org/areas-of-work/technology-collaboration/fusion-power
- https://aei.pitt.edu/13259/
- wikipedia:International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility
Social media
References
- ↑ "Fusion Power". International Energy Agency. https://www.iea.org/areas-of-work/technology-collaboration/fusion-power.
- ↑ "Implementing Agreement for Radiation Damage". University of Pittsburgh. https://aei.pitt.edu/13259/.
- ↑ "FPCC Meeting". ITER Organization. https://www.iter.org/newsline/166/668.
- ↑ "Implementing Agreement for Radiation Damage". University of Pittsburgh. https://aei.pitt.edu/13259/.
- ↑ "FPCC Meeting". ITER Organization. https://www.iter.org/newsline/166/668.
- ↑ "Fusion Power". International Energy Agency. https://www.iea.org/areas-of-work/technology-collaboration/fusion-power.