Fusion energy strategy announced at Tokamak Energy

The strategy includes a £2.5b investment in fusion energy research and development. This will provide a clear path to commercial fusion that could ensure lasting energy security, support more than 10,000 jobs by 2030, drive investment and grow supply chains.

A central element of the plan is the development of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme to design and build a prototype fusion power plant at the site of the former West Burton A coal-fired power plant station near Retford, which closed in 2023 and is being demolished.

ILIOS consortium was announced as the successful construction partner to develop the site on Monday, with completion expected by 2040. The contract is worth £200m.

Tokamak Energy, founded in 2009, is a spin-out from the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). It designed, built and operates ST40, the highest field spherical tokamak, and Demo4, a world-first high temperature superconducting (HTS) fusion magnet system.

WATCH: ST40 plasma in action: https://vimeo.com/1130255832?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Warrick Matthew, Tokamak Energy CEO, said: “Tokamak Energy brings extensive expertise to the race, including power plant-relevant results on our groundbreaking spherical tokamak and world-first high HTS fusion magnet system.

“We are a market leader in the breakthrough HTS technology the STEP fusion programme will rely on to control the plasma.

“Our focus is realising its full potential for fusion and other sectors, including science, defence, transport, and power distribution for enabling next generation data centres – tomorrow’s technology creating growth, jobs, exports and value today.”

As part of the government’s new fusion strategy to position the UK as a global leader in commercial fusion energy, it is also investing £45m into an AI supercomputer.

Lord Patrick Vallance, minister for science, innovation, research and nuclear (Image: Oxford Mail)

Lord Patrick Vallance, minister for science, innovation, research and nuclear, said: “What we’re trying to do across the whole of the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor is to make this one of the world’s greatest innovation zones.

“With 500 companies working in and around fusion, we are already at the forefront of this and getting real investment from the private sector.

“We are starting in a very good position because we know we’ve got some of the greatest mind and companies here, but what we need to do now is grow them and make them sustainable to create local wealth which is going to be important for the area and the future.”

Dr Tim Bestwick, group CEO of the UKAEA said: “The UKAEA Group is focused on delivering across this important national strategy, including key capabilities in world-leading fusion technologies. Our ambitious programmes are progressing the field of fusion and are closely aligned with the Government’s priorities.”