Fusion Fuel Cycles (FFC) – based in Chalk River, Ontario – was established as a joint venture between Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and Kyoto Fusioneering to develop and deploy deuterium-tritium (D-T) fusion fuel cycle technologies. The first project under this initiative is UNITY-2, a groundbreaking integrated and flexible fuel cycle test facility. This facility will pioneer the full D-T fuel cycle from fuel discharge to purification and supply, demonstrating efficient tritium processing technology in relevant conditions and at relevant rates to enable a risk-reduced path to a fusion power plant on a decadal timeframe. UNITY-2 is scheduled to be operational by mid-2026.
General Atomics said its investment in FFC will “accelerate the development of UNITY-2”, which it says is “poised to play a pivotal role in clearing the path towards commercialising fusion energy”.
UNITY-2 will serve as a versatile and open platform for fusion innovators worldwide to advance science and close technology gaps related to tritium-processing systems. Specifically, it will support the study and demonstration of tritium inventory minimisation and processing efficiency; tritium emission minimisation and material compatibility; process modelling, controls, and simulation; fuel supply; tritium accountancy and diagnostics; safe tritium operations; and waste minimisation.
As part of the collaboration, General Atomics will leverage the facility’s advanced infrastructure to further its R&D on fusion components, while supporting the Canadian team in identifying the safest and most effective methods for handling, storing, and managing tritium.
“This vital work will also help lay the foundation for developing other critical fusion systems, such as a blanket component test facility to evaluate scaled prototypes of that technology,” General Atomics said.
“Our collaboration with FFC is a pivotal step toward realising the full potential of fusion energy,” said Anantha Krishnan, senior vice president of the General Atomics Energy Group. “Developing a practical fusion power plant demands that all core systems – including the fuel cycle – operate in concert. This collaboration directly targets one of the toughest challenges and brings us closer to solving the puzzle of integrating a complete, functional fusion system.”
Yuhei Nozoe, Co-CEO of FFC, added: “This investment by GA illustrates the value that UNITY-2 can bring to fusion technology companies: Only real-world testing in representative fusion conditions can truly de-risk fuel cycle components. Anyone serious about achieving commercial fusion in the next few decades recognises the importance of having facilities like UNITY-2 to go beyond modeling and paper studies and determine actual performance.”
