University and EPRI Launch £2.63 Million Fusion Materials Partnership

The University of Birmingham and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) have launched a £2.63 million research partnership to accelerate the development of fusion energy technologies. The FURESHMA programme will focus on testing advanced shielding materials designed to protect critical components in future fusion power plants.

The collaboration, funded by UKRI's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and EPRI with participation from Element Six, will investigate boride and carbide materials. These materials must withstand intense neutron irradiation, extreme temperatures, and significant thermo-mechanical stresses within a fusion reactor.

The project combines the University of Birmingham's expertise in fusion materials with EPRI's experience in nuclear materials, energy research, and technology deployment. The goal is to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and practical applications for commercial fusion power.

Data generated from the programme will be made openly available to support UK industry and the wider international fusion research community. This initiative is part of broader UK-US cooperation in fusion energy, with governments highlighting its potential for low-carbon electricity and energy security.