Ayesa Engineering to provide engineering support for IFMIF-DONES, Spain’s largest scientific research facility

Ayesa, a global engineering and technology services provider, and UG21, a Spanish infrastructure & energy consultant have been awarded the contract as a joint venture to deliver the project from planning to construction.

The contract scope includes advanced fusion technologies such as particle accelerators and lithium loops, alongside infrastructure, building systems, automation, and logistics.

Based in Escúzar, Granada, IFMIF-DONES will become a global testbed for materials used in fusion reactors, driving the next generation of clean nuclear energy.

Ayesa Engineering, a global provider of engineering and technology services operating in over 24 countries, will deliver the contract in joint venture with UG21, a Spanish engineering firm with deep expertise in infrastructure and energy. Together, they have been awarded the contract to provide engineering support for the construction of IFMIF-DONES (the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility)—a cutting-edge scientific infrastructure at the forefront of global efforts to develop commercial fusion (nuclear) energy.

With a projected investment of €700 million, IFMIF-DONES is Spain’s most ambitious scientific facility to date and a key part of the European Fusion Energy Programme, which aims to develop fusion power as a safe, sustainable, and near-limitless energy source—helping to meet the world’s long-term energy demands.

IFMIF-DONES: Pioneering fusion materials research on a global stage

The facility will be built in the Industrial, Technological, and Research Area (CITAI) in Escúzar, Granada. It will feature a 40 MeV high-intensity deuteron linear accelerator, with capacity for future expansion to two parallel accelerators. IFMIF-DONES will be the only operational site in the world capable of simulating the extreme neutron irradiation conditions found in fusion reactors—placing Spain and Europe at the forefront of global fusion research.

Its core mission is to test, validate, and qualify materials for use in future fusion reactors such as DEMO—a demonstration power plant designed to supply fusion electricity to the grid. IFMIF-DONES will generate critical data on how materials behave under intense radiation, ensuring the safety, durability, and performance of next-generation fusion energy systems. Ultimately, the project aims to replicate the energy of the sun on Earth through magnetic confinement fusion.

IFMIF-DONES represents a transformative opportunity, not only for Granada, Andalusia, and Spain, but for the global scientific community. In addition to advancing fusion energy research, the project is expected to create highly skilled employment, attract international collaboration, and reinforce Spain’s position as a leader in next-generation energy innovation. With €50 million allocated for commissioning and €60 million annually for operation, the facility will help harness scientific progress, talent development, and international partnerships.

Ayesa meets the challenge: Building the future of fusion energy

José Antonio García Bermudo, Manager of the joint venture and Global Division Director of Energy and Industrial Facilities at Ayesa, commented: “This is a major challenge for a top-tier engineering firm like Ayesa – one that brings together all the disciplines and expertise required to deliver a next-generation nuclear facility”.

This includes expertise in scientific-technological systems such as neutrino irradiation platforms, liquid lithium loops, and deuteron accelerators, as well as automation systems, project and systems management, building engineering, maintenance and logistics planning, radiation protection, and remote handling systems for irradiated environments.

To deliver this complex project, the joint venture will collaborate with internationally recognised experts and institutions, including the Plasma Physics and Fusion Technology Laboratory at the University of Seville, QuantIA (a spin-off from the University of Granada), GTD Science, Infrastructure & Robotics, and AMPHOS21 Consulting.

Cutting-edge digital twin project to future-proof the facility

In parallel, Ayesa is leading a complementary R&D+i initiative: OPTIMA-DONES. This project focuses on developing a cyber-physical system to enhance the long-term performance of the facility through predictive maintenance and intelligent monitoring. Aligned with the Maintenance 5.0 paradigm, OPTIMA-DONES will create: A digital twin of the facility, Real-time data acquisition systems, AI-powered simulation and fault detection tools. These innovations are being developed in collaboration with research groups from the Universities of Málaga and Granada and will enable proactive decision-making, improved operational reliability, and smarter lifecycle management.