In Escúzar (Granada), green light has been given for the construction of the scientific infrastructure IFMIF-DONES, a project led by the Croatian Stasa Skenzic and with a Spanish secretariat. The decision was announced at a meeting held in Granada, attended by representatives from 15 European Union countries and Japan, as well as organizations such as EURATOM, EUROfusion, and Fusion for Energy.
The main objective of this facility is to promote the viability of materials exposed to nuclear fusion reactions in reactors like ITER, currently under construction in southern France. The Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, reported that construction of the main building, which will include a particle accelerator and other essential systems, will begin in 2025.
This ambitious infrastructure, which will mobilize 700 million euros for construction and an additional 50 million for its commissioning, will have an annual operating cost of 50 million. This project represents the largest investment in international science made in Spain, according to Minister Morant.
Spain will finance 50% of the construction cost and 10% of the operating cost, while Croatia will assume 5% of the project. In addition, the participation of other countries is being negotiated. As part of Spain’s commitment, the government has already allocated 93 million euros from the FEDER 2021-2027 budget for IFMIF-DONES.
The Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI) and IFMIF DONES España will manage an Innovative Public Procurement of essential components for the project, valued at 30 million euros. The Andalusian Regional Government will also contribute to the financing, providing one euro for every euro funded by the Ministry.
Direct hiring of at least 200 scientists, engineers, and highly qualified personnel is expected in the next three years, according to a Strategic Human Resources Plan. This project will generate around 11,000 jobs in Granada during the 40 years of construction and operation of the infrastructure, significantly contributing to the development of a clean and unlimited energy model based on nuclear fusion.
The DONES program’s mission is to develop a database on the effects of neutron irradiation on materials, essential for the design and construction of future fusion reactors. IFMIF-DONES will be responsible for creating this neutron source, capable of replicating the irradiation conditions of future reactors.
The project, initially an initiative of the CIEMAT National Fusion Laboratory, is currently managed by the IFMIF-DONES Spain Consortium, a research entity equally shared between the Central Government and the Autonomous Community of Andalusia.
Source: MiMub in Spanish
