Photo courtesy of STEPThe UK is investing £2.5 billion over 5 years to lead the global race for fusion energy, with the
STEP programme at its core. STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is the UK’s flagship fusion programme, aiming to deliver a prototype fusion power plant by 2040 at West Burton, Nottinghamshire. Built on the site of a former coal-fired power station, STEP is delivering a ‘fossil to fusion’ mission and will create thousands of jobs, as well as acting as an anchor for a new industrial ecosystem in the region as part of the East Midlands Combined Authority’s Clean Energy Supercluster along the River Trent. Delivered by
UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS), STEP is a cornerstone of the UK’s clean energy and industrial future.
The Industrial Strategy features STEP as a case study for fusion energy development, alongside further workstreams in the sector, such as the
UK Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) Fusion Futures careers programme. Today’s announcements serve to highlight the Government’s support for the sector and confidence in the STEP programme’s progress to date.
Other recent UK fusion milestones include a UKAEA–ENI fusion energy fuels partnership announced in March, working to build the world’s largest tritium fuel cycle facility in the UK, and a £100 million investment boost via the Starmaker One fund from the Government. Fusion is already delivering spillover benefits in artificial inteligence (AI), robotics and advanced materials — securing the UK’s place at the forefront of clean technology.
UKIFS CEO Paul Methven said: “The UK is at the forefront of global fusion energy research, and STEP is the flagship initiative poised to transform that leadership into commercial reality. By building our prototype fusion power plant in the East Midlands, we are not only advancing clean energy but also creating high-quality jobs, driving innovation, and delivering economic growth both regionally and nationally. Maintaining our global edge in such a transformative technology demands ambition and the Industrial Strategy’s publication this week, with STEP at its heart, shows that the Government is rising to that challenge. We are ready to turn this bold vision into action and ensure the UK leads the way in this exciting sector.”
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) Ed Miliband visited UK’s Fusion Research Campus in Oxfordshire earlier this year, where he said: “After scientists first theorised over 70 years ago that it could be possible, we are now within grasping distance of unlocking the power of the sun and providing families with secure, clean, unlimited energy.” In the introduction within the Industrial Strategy, he lists fusion as a key part of the Government’s mission: “[By delivering] fusion in the East Midlands we will deliver the benefits of our Clean Energy Superpower Mission to communities up and down the country.”