A strategic partnership between Swansea University and the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is helping to address one of the most ambitious scientific and engineering challenges of modern times: replicating the power of the sun on Earth through fusion energy.
What began as a series of individual research projects has grown into a coordinated programme focused on overcoming the key engineering barriers to fusion power. As the field moves beyond physics-led discovery toward practical deployment, the collaboration has increasingly concentrated on the realities of building future fusion power plants.
By combining expertise in materials engineering, alloy development, advanced testing, imaging and computational modelling, the partnership is working to bridge the gap between scientific promise and industrial application. Over the past year, joint teams have delivered a number of significant outcomes, including three major alloy development programmes: NEURONE.0, NEURONE 1.0 and RADIENT, aimed at creating materials capable of withstanding the extreme thermal, mechanical and radiation environments inside fusion reactors.
Supported by state-of-the-art testing, imaging and microstructural analysis, the research is already delivering applied impact. Breakthroughs from the collaboration have been highlighted by the UK Government, including the production of fusion-grade steel at scale in a UK first.
Alongside technical advances, the partnership has also produced three peer-reviewed publications and supported eight PhD researchers working at the interface of materials science and fusion engineering. Two of those graduates have since taken up roles within UKAEA, strengthening the skills pipeline for the sector.
Looking ahead, the partners are turning their attention to future workforce needs and employability, with plans under way for a new multi-million-pound learning and teaching programme designed to support long-term skills development in fusion engineering.
The collaboration has also received external recognition. Swansea University was recently shortlisted in the Strategic Partnership category at the Knowledge Exchange Awards UK for its ongoing work with UKAEA. As the partnership enters the new year, both organisations say the focus remains on deepening collaboration to help develop the technologies and expertise required to deliver fusion energy at scale.
For further information on this partnership please contact: Abi Lewis, Strategic Partnerships Lead: a.l.lewis@swansea.ac.uk