Korea Institute of Fusion Energy signs MOU with Hyundai Engineering on design and construction technology cooperation

The Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) device operated by the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy. [Herald DB]
The Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) device operated by the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy. [Herald DB]

Industry-research collaboration to develop a Korean-style innovative fusion reactor targeting commercial power generation by 2035 is now moving into full swing.

The Korea Institute of Fusion Energy signed an MOU with Hyundai Engineering Co. on Wednesday on the "development of core technologies for a Korean innovative fusion reactor to accelerate the realization of fusion energy."

The agreement aims to build a cooperative foundation between research institutions and industry to secure the technologies needed for the design and construction of the Korean innovative fusion reactor.

The Korean innovative fusion reactor is a next-generation fusion power system with improved economic viability and stability, designed to overcome the limitations of conventional fusion reactors and enhance the prospects for commercialization.

The planned demonstration reactor is roughly one-third the scale of a 200-megawatt thermal output facility. Conceptual design work began this year, with ground-breaking targeted for 2030 and completion and power production demonstration planned by 2035.

Under the MOU, the two organizations will cooperate in three areas: design and construction technology for the Korean innovative fusion reactor, site evaluation and radiation licensing technology for fusion reactors, and other fields of mutual interest agreed upon by both parties.

Yang Hyeong-yeol (left), head of the Innovative Fusion Reactor Design Division, and Lee Seung-won, head of the Energy Business Division at Hyundai Engineering Co., pose for a photo after signing the MOU. [Korea Institute of Fusion Energy]
Yang Hyeong-yeol (left), head of the Innovative Fusion Reactor Design Division, and Lee Seung-won, head of the Energy Business Division at Hyundai Engineering Co., pose for a photo after signing the MOU. [Korea Institute of Fusion Energy]

The government's K-Moonshot Project has identified the "development of a Korean small-scale fusion demonstration reactor and demonstration of power production" as one of the national missions in the future energy sector.

Hyundai Engineering brings extensive experience and capabilities in the plant and engineering sectors. Through this MOU, the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy expects to broaden its industry partnerships in foundational technology areas including fusion reactor design and construction, site evaluation and radiation licensing.

"The success or failure of developing the Korean innovative fusion reactor depends not only on theoretical research but on the engineering capabilities at the design and construction stage — where that research must be perfectly realized as an actual large-scale facility," said Yang Hyeong-yeol, head of the Innovative Fusion Reactor Design Division. "We will work to build a cooperative foundation with Hyundai Engineering through this MOU and contribute to securing the relevant technologies."


nbgkoo@heraldcorp.com