The government has launched a competition to identify industry collaborators for the development of the UK’s prototype fusion energy plant.
Claire Coutinho, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, and Andrew Bowie, Minister for Nuclear and Renewables, introduced the initiative, emphasizing fusion energy’s crucial role in combating climate change and meeting future energy demands.
Named STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production), the project aims to demonstrate net energy generation from fusion and facilitate the commercialization of this promising energy source.
Scheduled to commence on May 22nd, the competition aims to establish a public-private partnership led by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd (UKIFS) to oversee the development of the STEP prototype fusion plant.
The prototype will be constructed at West Burton, Nottinghamshire, situated on the grounds of a former coal-fired power station, with the goal of achieving net energy generation from fusion by the 2040s.
As one of the three ‘Whole Plant Partners’ to STEP, UKAEA will contribute specialized expertise and resources alongside selected engineering and construction partners.
Contracts, valued at hundreds of millions of pounds, will be granted to the selected collaborators, focusing on establishing a robust fusion supply chain to uphold the UK’s leadership in this emerging field.
Andrew Bowie, Minister for Nuclear and Renewables, remarked, “Fusion presents a potential source of nearly limitless energy, and the UK is at the forefront of efforts to harness this power and secure long-term energy independence.”
The construction of STEP represents a significant opportunity for the sector, offering investment and employment opportunities in a former industrial area of Nottinghamshire.
