Spain and Croatia strengthen their collaboration in the IFMIF-DONES clean energy project

The International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility-Demo Oriented Neutron Source (IFMIF-DONES) is a unique scientific infrastructure to be built in Escúzar (Granada) to identify, test and certify materials for use in future fusion power plants, a clean, safe and stable energy source.

The Minister for Science and Innovation has conveyed the Government of Spain's firm commitment to the implementation of IFMIF-DONES in our country, in close collaboration with the international community, and in particular with Croatia.

Morant said that science and innovation are the best way to move society forward and stressed the fundamental role of international collaboration in tackling global social challenges.

This project is part of the Government of Spain's commitment to renewable energies, which in addition to protecting the planet will create new job opportunities and economic development.

The agreement was adopted within the framework of the Croatia-Spain IFMIF-DONES Forum, held in Zagreb and chaired by the King and Queen of Spain and the President of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanović. It was also attended by the director of the IFMIF-DONES Spain Consortium, Ángel Ibarra, and the director of the IFMIF-DONES Croatia Consortium, Tonči Tadić, among other authorities.

IFMIF-DONES Project

IFMIF-DONES is part of the ambitious programme the EU is implementing to develop fusion as an energy source, in an international collaboration that includes the partners of ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor). It also constitutes a fundamental pillar for the European objective to build a Fusion Electricity Production Demonstrator Plant (DEMO) by the middle of this century.

The estimated construction and commissioning budget for IFMIF-DONES is €700 million. In addition, the operating cost will be 50 million per year for the lifetime of the facility. Spain has committed to financing 50% of the construction cost and 10% of the operating costs. Croatia is responsible for 5%.

The Government of Spain has already earmarked €16 million of European ERDF funds to advance the construction of general interest buildings and laboratories to support the future IFMIF-DONES facility.

In addition, the project will create more than 1,000 jobs in Granada alone, 400 of them high-level scientific and technical personnel from all over the world, which will contribute to the revitalisation of the territory and the fight against depopulation.

Non official translation