Granada, (EFE).- The IFMIF-DONES clean energy project, known as a particle accelerator, which will be based in Escúzar (Granada), will be in the scientific exploitation phase in 2033 and its main buildings will be completed in 2029 thanks to the impetus provided by the first meeting of the executive committee scheduled for March in Granada.
The Government delegate in Andalusia, Pedro Fernández, visited this Friday the land where the Ministry of Science has been working since last September to build the clean energy scientific complex IFMIF-DONES (International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility -Demo Oriented Neutron Source).
Fernández, who has been accompanied by other institutional representatives, has stressed that the IFMIF has placed Granada at the forefront in the investigation of clean and future energy.
He added that Granada will reinforce its reference position on March 16, the date on which it will be the world reference for science by hosting the meeting of the IFMIF executive committee.
About 1,000 jobs
“It will be from that moment on when the contracts begin to start the construction of the largest scientific facility in Spain and one of the main international projects, which will also attract highly qualified talent and foresees the creation of around 1,000 jobs. “, has underlined.
During the visit to the works, he recalled that the project has had the “unconditional” support of the Government of Spain since 2018, which has allowed Granada to be the only European candidacy, with the support of Croatia and with Japan as the only one natural competitor of the project.
The Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, has convened the “steering committee” for March 16, made up of 13 countries of the European Union, a representative of Euratom and Japan, who will discuss in the Carmen de los Mártires of Granada capital his participation in the particle accelerator.
In Granada, materials will be tested that can withstand the extreme conditions to which the components of the future ITER fusion reactor will be exposed, a project supported by thirty countries, such as China, the United States or Russia.
The coordinator of the IFMIF-DONES technical office, José Aguilar, has advanced that the project and the meeting in March go beyond this unique facility and represents a program with a series of objectives for the development of fusion energy.
Fusion as a source of energy
Regarding the deadlines for the large works, it has been announced that it will be in scientific exploitation in 2033, so the construction of the main accelerator building will have to begin in 2025 so that it is completed in 2029.
The works on the facilities associated with the accelerator, which began in September, have a budget of 11.5 million euros and an execution period of 12 months to erect three buildings, in addition to urbanizing part of the industrial estate.
IFMIF-DONES is part of the ambitious program that the EU is deploying to develop fusion as a source of energy, in an international collaboration that includes partners from ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor).
The estimated construction budget of IFMIF-DONES is 700 million euros and an operating cost of 50 million per year is added during the useful life of the facility. EFE