Science
for
Future Energy

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Welcome to DIFFER

Our mission is to perform fundamental research on materials, processes, and systems for a global sustainable energy infrastructure. We host unique user facilities for energy and materials research.

News & events

A vibrant open day at DIFFER during the Dutch Weekend of Science: 'Hi sunshine!'

Weekend van de Wetenschap DIFFER

Technology conference Big Science Business Forum 2026 heads to Maastricht

BSBF 2024

Starting signal for research on the development of additively manufactured tungsten heat shields for nuclear…

Thomas Morgan

DIFFER Seminar: Hydrogen for Heat and Power: Burning questions

Jeroen van Oijen
Oct 31st - Seminar
October 31, 2024
Research

Fusion Energy & Chemical Energy research

At DIFFER, we are carrying out groundbreaking fundamental research on energy. Our research focuses on two major energy themes: research into fusion energy as a clean, safe and sustainable energy source and research into chemical energy. Click below for more information about one of these research themes.

Facilities

Research facilities

Our facilities for Fusion Energy and Chemical Energy research are designed and operated by an experienced team of researchers and engineers. DIFFER’s world class facility Magnum-PSI is the only laboratory in the world that can investigate materials under the extreme heat and particle loads that will exist in future fusion reactors.

Magnum-PSI
Magnum-PSI facility
Ion Beam Facility
Ion Beam Facility
Chemical Energy Labs
Chemical Energy Labs
Working at

Working in multidisciplinary teams

DIFFER believes that the performance of excellent research thrives on a balanced work force. We want to create an environment where everyone feels at home and can bring out the best in themselves.

Our network

International partners

We cannot realise sustainable and relevant energy solutions by ourselves. DIFFER works together with researchers from companies, universities, knowledge and research institutions in the Netherlands and abroad. We share our knowledge and we jointly elaborate our ideas and test systems so that these can eventually be used commercially on a large scale.

ITER
Aarhus University
EUROfusion
TU Eindhoven
KIT
Brightlands
FZ Jülich
TU Delft
University of Twente