A UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and global energy technology company Eni partnership has announced that Kinectrics will join as a design and manufacturing partner for the UKAEA-Eni H3AT Tritium Loop Facility. The facility is expected to be fully operational by 2030 and will be a world-leading tritium fuel cycle facility. Located at the Culham Campus in Oxfordshire, UK, it is scheduled for completion in 2028.
Kinectrics is a Canada-based multinational with decades of experience in tritium technology. Tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, is a key fuel for future fusion power plants. Kinectrics' expertise in systems engineering, safety compliance, vertically integrated delivery models, and fusion fuel cycle systems will complement UKAEA's fusion research capabilities and Eni's experience in delivering industrial-scale projects.
The UKAEA-Eni H3AT Tritium Loop Facility aims to accelerate tritium technology innovation and lead the development of tritium technology for fusion power plants. It is an international experimental user facility dedicated to addressing challenges in fusion fuel cycle design, manufacturing, and testing to develop safe and commercially viable fusion energy. Tritium recycling and reuse will be central to the fuel supply and power generation of future fusion power plants.
As a partner, Kinectrics will support UKAEA and Eni in developing and integrating key tritium handling technologies, including Atmosphere Detritiation Systems (ADS), Water Detritiation Systems (WDS), and gloveboxes. These technologies help recover tritium from gaseous waste streams and tritiated water, and ensure high-integrity containment of equipment.
Sarah Clark, Head of UKAEA's Tritium Fuel Cycle Division, said: "We are delighted that Kinectrics will join our integrated project team as a manufacturing partner for the H3AT Tritium Loop Facility. Having the right partners is crucial to the successful design and development of H3AT, and Kinectrics' experience in tritium, fusion, and related fields complements the strengths we already have from UKAEA and Eni. This multinational collaboration will further develop the Culham Campus and the wider UK region as a key location for fusion energy R&D."
Francesca Ferrazza, Head of Eni's Magnetic Fusion Programme, said: "Eni supports fusion energy as a breakthrough development on the energy transition pathway. This international collaboration strengthens the H3AT facility's position, bringing together experts to achieve key technological goals related to the tritium fuel cycle and extending Eni's commitment to the industrialization of fusion energy."
Nisa Halsey, Vice President of Nuclear Equipment & Tools at Kinectrics, said: "As the fusion industry matures, the H3AT facility will be key infrastructure for optimizing the fusion fuel cycle. Kinectrics, as an original equipment manufacturer of specialist equipment for the fission industry, brings decades of experience and expertise in complex isotope handling systems delivered through rigorous engineering and manufacturing excellence. The Kinectrics team is proud to collaborate with global partners like UKAEA and Eni to deliver the H3AT Tritium Loop Facility and support the advancement of fusion energy technology."
Kinectrics' appointment builds upon the Canada-UK partnership in fusion energy and is expected to strengthen UKAEA's position as a hub for fusion energy R&D. The collaboration focuses on tritium fuel cycle technology, aiming to advance the commercialization of fusion energy.
