Durham University scientists have played a central role in advancing the world’s biggest fusion experiment, ITER, by completing one of the largest quality verification programmes ever carried out on superconducting materials.
Their work, published in Superconductor Science and Technology, offers new insights into both the performance of superconducting wires and the most effective methods of testing them – knowledge seen as crucial to making fusion energy a reality.
Fusion, the process that powers the Sun, promises a virtually limitless supply of clean energy with no carbon emissions and minimal radioactive waste.
ITER, currently under construction in southern France, is designed to demonstrate fusion at scale.
Its success depends entirely on giant superconducting magnets, capable of confining plasma at temperatures hotter than the Sun’s core.
Durham’s team, led by Professor Damian Hampshire and Dr Mark Raine, was selected in 2011 to act as one of Europe’s official ITER reference laboratories.
Their task was to develop specialised methods to test superconducting wires made from Nb₃Sn and Nb–Ti, the backbone of ITER’s magnet system.
Over the duration of the project, the team received more than 5,500 wire samples and conducted around 13,000 individual measurements.
The research included extensive statistical analysis, showing that when repeat measurements are not possible, cross-laboratory testing of adjacent strands provides a reliable and cost-effective way of ensuring accuracy and manufacturing consistency.
Professor Hampshire said: “The UK leads the world in the manufacture of MRI body scanners using superconducting magnets. The question is can we help lead the world with the commercialisation of Fusion Power generation using Superconducting magnets?”
Their findings come as momentum in fusion accelerates worldwide.
ITER aims for first plasma in 2035, while private firms such as Helion and Commonwealth Fusion Systems target earlier commercial reactors.
The UK government has committed £2.5 billion to its own prototype fusion plant, STEP, in Nottinghamshire.
Durham scientists verify superconducting materials for world’s largest fusion project appeared first on Energy Live News.