admin The United Kingdom and Oxford are set to take centre stage in the global fusion community as both engineers and scientists will gather for IEEE SOFE 2023 from 9th-13th July. This is in fact the first time the conference is being held outside of the US and has attracted a record attendance of over 700 delegates from 26 countries. The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is proudly hosting the event, showcasing the country’s commitment to advancing fusion energy.
Why Fusion Energy?
Fusion energy holds tremendous potential in transforming energy security and combating climate change. Achieving this potential requires cutting-edge advancements in science, engineering, and technology. Dr. Heather Lewtas, Chair of SOFE 2023 and UKAEA’s Head of Innovation, expressed her excitement, highlighting the importance of providing a platform for technical conversations among public and private fusion organisations, academia, and the supply chain. Dr. Lewtas emphasised that the strength of the global community will play a crucial role in making fusion energy an integral part of the world’s future power supply.
Highlights of the Programme
The event, held at the University of Oxford’s Examination Schools, offers an engaging programme that includes various significant highlights. The STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) program, led by UKAEA’s Director of STEP, Paul Methven, will outline the progression and future journey of the UK’s prototype fusion energy power plant. This represents a significant milestone in the UK’s fusion energy pursuit.
The Women in Fusion Evening Event will feature Gabriela Hearst, Creative Director of Chloé, who will share her experiences from COP27 and discuss her fashion platform’s role in advocating for climate change and fusion energy. This insightful event will be live-streamed on Instagram, expanding its reach to a wider audience.
The Fusion Companies Panel Discussion will bring together renowned organisations from across the world, including Tokamak Energy, General Fusion, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Hellion, and TAE. These industry leaders will showcase their ambitious plans to integrate fusion energy into the power grid, presenting innovative approaches and cutting-edge technologies driving fusion advancements.
An International Panel Discussion will feature representatives from Europe, the United States, Japan, China, and South Korea. This discussion will provide a platform for sharing updates on national fusion power plant initiatives, fostering collaboration and cooperation among nations at the forefront of fusion research.
In addition to the conference program, delegates have the unique opportunity to visit UKAEA’s Culham Campus, which houses the record-breaking fusion energy machine JET (Joint European Torus), MAST-Upgrade (Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak), the Materials Research Facility, and the robotics division RACE (Remote Applications in Challenging Environments).
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