Oxford Instruments, the leading supplier of superconducting materials, has been selected to supply an additional 9 tonnes of superconducting wire to ITER at a value of approximately £5 million. ITER is a joint international research and development project seeking alternative energy through fusion power and is one of the largest scientific projects ever undertaken. This order has been agreed with Oak Ridge National Labs/UT Battelle on behalf of the United States ITER project office, the procurement agency in the US for ITER.
The first deliveries will be in the financial year commencing April 2010. Deliveries will be phased over two years. The wire will be supplied by Oxford Superconducting Technology, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oxford Instruments.
This order is in addition to the £30 million order for 58 tonnes of superconducting wire announced in July from Fusion for Energy, the European procurement agency for ITER.