The Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation (CDTI) has awarded the joint venture formed by Asturfeito S.A., Empresarios Agrupados Internacional S.A., and Ingecid S.L. the pre-commercial public procurement contract for the development of the technological validator for the test cell of the IFMIF-DONES project (International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility – DEMO-Oriented Neutron Source).
Located in Granada, IFMIF-DONES is a scientific facility designed to support the development of nuclear fusion energy, a clean, safe, and sustainable energy source. Its primary objective is to test and evaluate advanced materials capable of withstanding the extreme conditions inside a nuclear fusion reactor, including high temperatures and intense radiation exposure. Through this project, researchers will assess how materials respond to neutron radiation in an environment similar to that of a fusion reactor. The project aims to advance the development of next-generation fusion reactors, including DEMO (Demonstration Power Plant), the intermediate step before commercial fusion reactors.
Specifically, the scope of the contract awarded to the joint venture includes the design, manufacturing, assembly, and testing of the validator, which consists of the vacuum vessel, lithium target, radiological shielding, service systems, and equipment control system.
The contract is co-financed by the CDTI and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2021-2027.
As the leader of the joint venture, Asturfeito will be responsible for project management, engineering, and the supply of the vacuum vessel and lithium target—critical components at the core of the facility. Additionally, Asturfeito will oversee the assembly and testing of all equipment, both at the workshop and on-site.
According to Álvaro Zarza, Asturfeito’s Business Development Director, “We are proud to be part of such an innovative project that strengthens our position as a benchmark in fusion research—a strategic sector with enormous potential, where both Spain and Asturfeito are firmly committed to taking the lead.”
