Technical Project Manager

The Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER) performs leading fundamental research on materials, processes, and systems for a global sustainable energy infrastructure. We work in close partnership with (inter)national academia and industry. Our user facilities are open to industry and university researchers. As an institute of the Dutch Research Council (NWO) DIFFER plays a key role in fundamental research for the energy transition.

We use a multidisciplinary approach applicable on two key areas, solar fuels for the conversion and storage of renewable energy and nuclear fusion – as a clean source of energy.

LiMeS-lab
Nuclear fusion can deliver practically unlimited, clean, safe and large-scale electricity production. However, constructing a fusion reactor is scientifically and technologically complex. A great challenge is formed by the heat load to the reactor wall, so severe that many materials would melt or evaporate. The application of refractory metal (e.g. tungsten) wall components that incorporate flowing liquid metal (e.g tin or lithium) layers, presents a promising new way forward. To explore and qualify this new technology for deployment in large scale fusion devices, a dedicated and globally unique laboratory will be created at DIFFER. This new laboratory for the development of Liquid-Metal Shield technologies for fusion reactors, a.k.a. LiMeS-lab, will be realized in a five year project which has started in January 2022, and is financed via a NWO Large investment grant.