Fusion energy powers UK바카라 사이트檚 Industrial Strategy
바카라 사이트바카라 사이트檚 Industrial Strategy, announced today, puts fusion energy at the heart of driving innovation, economic growth and energy security.
STEP Tokamak with burning plasma, side view. Image credit: UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd.
The UK is investing 拢2.5 billion over 5 years to lead the global race for fusion energy, with the STEP programme at its core.聽STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is the UK바카라 사이트檚 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 바카라 사이트榝ossil to fusion바카라 사이트� 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 Authority바카라 사이트檚 Clean Energy Supercluster along the River Trent. Delivered by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS), STEP is a cornerstone of the UK바카라 사이트檚 clean energy and industrial future.聽
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 Authority바카라 사이트檚 (UKAEA) Fusion Futures careers programme. Today바카라 사이트檚 announcements serve to highlight the government바카라 사이트檚 support for the sector and confidence in the STEP programme바카라 사이트檚 progress to date.
The Industrial Strategy also highlighted the UKAEA바카라 사이트檚 Fusion Futures programme, which aims to support skills and training in the sector, to stimulate supply chain activity and foster international collaboration. The UKAEA are the STEP Programme바카라 사이트檚 Fusion Partner and this work will support the shared aim to develop a strong UK fusion supply chain that can deliver commercial fusion power plants in the future.
Other recent UK fusion milestones include a UKAEA바카라 사이트揈NI fusion energy fuels partnership announced in March, working to build the world바카라 사이트檚 largest tritium fuel cycle facility in the UK, and a 拢100 million investment boost via the Starmaker One fund from central government. Fusion is already delivering spillover benefits in AI, robotics and advanced materials - securing the UK바카라 사이트檚 place at the forefront of clean technology.
UKIFS CEO Paul Methven reflected on the Industrial Strategy announcement:
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, we바카라 사이트檙e 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 today바카라 사이트檚 Industrial Strategy publication, with STEP at its heart, shows that government is rising to that challenge. We바카라 사이트檙e 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 UK바카라 사이트檚 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 today, he lists fusion as a key part of the government바카라 사이트檚 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.바카라 사이트�
The project offers exciting innovation opportunities and a chance to shape the future of clean energy. STEP is currently in dialogue with potential Construction and Engineering partners, with announcements expected this coming winter 2025/26.
Notes to Editors
The Industrial Strategy is available here:聽
STEP and UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) Ltd
The first of its kind, STEP is the UK바카라 사이트檚 major technology and infrastructure programme to build a prototype fusion power plant that will demonstrate net energy, fuel self-sufficiency and a viable route to plant maintenance.바카라 사이트燭his will pave the way for the potential development of a fleet of future fusion power plants around the world and the commercialisation of fusion energy.
We바카라 사이트檒l achieve this by producing a prototype tokamak power plant - in an innovative spherical shape - that will demonstrate net energy. That바카라 사이트檚 why the programme is called STEP: it stands for 바카라 사이트楽pherical Tokamak for Energy Production바카라 사이트�.바카라 사이트疊ut STEP is about more than tokamak technology - it바카라 사이트檚 a huge endeavour encompassing design, site development and construction, alongside supply chain logistics and industry. Fusion research and development has the potential to catalyse new ideas and technologies that will benefit multiple industries and help secure our future on this planet.
By fusing government and business, inspiration and pragmatism, theory and practice, UK-expertise and international impact, we바카라 사이트檙e going to realise the step-change that will secure humanity바카라 사이트檚 bright future.聽A recent report by AMION, commissioned by local authorities, set out the economic potential of the STEP programme -聽
To sign-up for updates about STEP, visit:聽聽or聽follow our social channels聽.