UK's nuclear fusion tech to boost plant productivity with less downtime

The UK’s nuclear fusion program, led by UKAEA’s Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE) under the Fusion Futures initiative, is advancing two key remote maintenance technologies designed to enhance fusion plant productivity and reduce downtime. Collaborating with industry partners such as M5TEC and DEMCON, the program focuses on developing radiation-hardened components capable of operating reliably in extreme fusion environments. Notably, M5TEC has created a 10MGy Total Integrated Dose Actuator Set that withstands high radiation levels, enabling longer autonomous operation by reducing maintenance intervals. DEMCON has developed a 1MGy radiation-tolerant analogue-to-digital multiplexer that simplifies robotic system architectures and cuts cabling needs by 60%, improving signal transmission in high-radiation settings. These innovations are critical to supporting the UK’s fusion energy ambitions by extending operational time and enhancing the robustness of fusion plant systems. The collaboration has successfully delivered design, hardware, and radiation testing within tight schedules, marking a