Ferrovial to build Spain’s first nuclear fusion experimentation center

Ferrovial has been selected, in consortium with FCC Construction and local contractor Añil, to lead the design and construction of IFMIF-DONES, Spain’s first nuclear fusion experimentation center, to be built in Granada.

The project, formally known as IFMIF-DONES (International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility – DEMO Oriented Neutron Source), is one of Europe’s most ambitious scientific infrastructure initiatives. It is promoted by Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities together with the Regional Government of Andalusia. The facility will host two high-power particle accelerators designed to reproduce the neutron irradiation conditions expected inside a future nuclear fusion reactor.

Ferrovial’s role begins with the first phase of works under a framework agreement valued at €174 million. This phase covers the design and construction of the core infrastructure of the experimental complex, including the main building, which is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2029.

A unique capability in fusion research
IFMIF-DONES is intended to be a globally unique research installation. Its primary function is to simulate the intense neutron flux generated during nuclear fusion reactions and expose candidate structural materials to these conditions. By observing how materials behave under sustained neutron irradiation, researchers aim to validate and improve components critical to the development of future fusion power plants.

This capability addresses one of the key technical challenges in fusion energy: ensuring that materials can withstand extreme radiation, thermal loads and mechanical stress over long operational lifetimes. The data generated at IFMIF-DONES will directly support the design of next-generation fusion reactors and associated technologies.

Experience in large-scale fusion infrastructure
The project reinforces Ferrovial’s position in the construction of complex scientific and nuclear research infrastructure. The company has been involved for more than a decade in the development of ITER, the world’s largest international fusion energy experiment currently under construction in France. Since 2012, Ferrovial has been awarded eight ITER-related contracts, reflecting extensive experience in delivering technically demanding facilities with strict safety and precision requirements.

With IFMIF-DONES, Ferrovial applies this expertise to a facility that will play a strategic role in Europe’s long-term fusion research roadmap. Once operational, the center is expected to contribute significantly to advancing fusion energy from experimental research toward practical, industrial-scale power generation.

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