Kinectrics, a division of BWX Technologies Inc. (NYSE:BWXT), announced today its selection by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and Global Energy Tech company Eni to be the design and fabrication partner for the UKAEA-Eni H3AT (pronounced ‘HEAT') Tritium Loop Facility, which is expected to be the world's largest and most advanced tritium fuel cycle facility when it is fully commissioned in 2030.

Kinectrics brings decades of experience with tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, that is an essential fuel for future fusion power plants. This expertise includes systems engineering, safety and regulatory compliance, a vertically integrated delivery model, in-house tritium infrastructure, and existing knowledge in fusion fuel cycle systems.

This collaboration complements UKAEA's world-leading fusion research capabilities and Eni's experience of delivering industrial scale plants. Together, the team will accelerate innovation in tritium technologies for the UKAEA-Eni H3AT Tritium Loop Facility, a key international experimental user facility designed to lead the development of tritium technologies for fusion power plants.

Collectively, this team aims to solve challenges in the design, manufacturing, testing and delivery of fusion fuel cycles, to develop safe and commercially viable fusion energy. The recovery and reuse of tritium will be central to the supply and generation of the fuel in future fusion power plants.

As the design and fabrication partner, Kinectrics will utilize its specialized facilities and experts at the Toronto headquarters to support UKAEA and Eni with developing and integrating critical tritium-handling technologies, including:

  • Atmospheric Detritiation System (ADS): Recovers tritium from gas waste streams to minimise release to the atmosphere
  • Water Detritiation System (WDS): Recovers tritium from tritiated water
  • Gloveboxes: Containing developmental equipment, each glovebox is unique and requires high-performing containment to safely handle tritium and protect workers from contamination.



     

The Government of Canada recently announced investments of up to $15 million from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) to support Kinectrics' public-private collaboration on the UK Atomic Energy Authority–Eni H3AT loop tritium facility.