Advancing Sustainability in Particle Accelerators

In September, the city of Morioka, Japan, played host to the EAJADE Workshop on Sustainability in Future Accelerators (WSFA 2023). This three-day gathering brought together a range of experts united by a common goal—designing the particle accelerators of the future with a focus on reducing their environmental footprint.

Among the remote speakers at the workshop was the JAI’s Dr. Hannah Wakeling, who presented the initial findings of a study evaluating the environmental impact of the proposed ISIS-II Neutron and Muon source. ISIS-II, scheduled for construction around 2030 and expected to operate for over 40 years, stands as the next generation and successor to the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, which is located at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire.

The ISIS-II environmental impact assessment will encompass all phases of the ISIS-II project, including construction, operation, and decommissioning. What makes ISIS-II particularly remarkable is the rare opportunity to integrate sustainability considerations into the very fabric of its design from the outset, setting a commendable precedent for future accelerator projects. The overarching objective of this endeavour is to pinpoint the primary environmental contributions associated with ISIS-II, thereby facilitating optimization efforts aimed at reducing or mitigating these impacts.

In a world increasingly attuned to the importance of sustainability, initiatives like this not only elevate the scientific community's commitment to responsible innovation but also underscore the potential for groundbreaking discoveries that harmonize with climate wellbeing.