b'42 Partner News Spring 2021CorporateRussell, an electronics engineer, comes from a similar operations role with ABB Electrical & Electronic Manufacturing:Im thrilled to have joined UKAEA at such a critical timeand particularly so working on the site in Yorkshire.Working in fusion energy research is something new to me but its also an area where there are many exciting opportunities. Although its a different field of work for me, my core experience comes from project delivery, operations and cost management, and those are the key things I look after here.Russell, who is eight months into the role, is Image courtesy of UKAEA the primary lead for UKAEA Yorkshires team of plant engineers, technicians and facility Ready for what 2021operators. The first part of doing that will be recruitment.Recruiting a workforce is a key part of will bring at UKAEAsthe project at the moment, he says. One strand of that is bringing in lead operators for CHIMERA. Russell will also be UKAEAs lead on safety during the installation and Fusion Technologycommissioning of CHIMERA.Facility in South YorkshireWedged between Rotherham and SheffieldRussell Gibson is overseeing the progress of at the Advanced Manufacturing Park,this bold new venture as Operations Manager.UKAEAs facility in South Yorkshire is the first new research site for the UK AtomicWere very pleased and excited to haveImage courtesy of UKAEAEnergy Authority (outside of Culham) sinceJacobsa global engineering construction the 1950s. companyinvolved in the design andThis key project is focused on researching construction of this world class testingthe engineering design of critical fusion UKAEAs mission is to deliver sustainablefacility, he says. components and is seen as crucial on fusion energy, and the new centre will workthe path to prototype power plants, for with industry to develop and test materialsThe core components of fusion power plantsexample the UKs STEP device and the and components that can cope with thewill have to survive extreme temperatures,European DEMO programme. It will carry out conditions found inside a fusion powerheat flux and magnetic field conditions, andsubstantial testing of components in fusion-plant. From March 2021, Jacobs will beginso substantial testing of these materialsrelated conditions.work on constructing the CHIMERA test rigis absolutely essential. Its one of the key facility, with its 250-tonne magnet a centraltechnological challenges for engineersFind out more at: ccfe.ukaea.uk/part of the project. seeking to make fusion commercially viable. technology/fusion-technology'