UK to take a big 바카라 사이트楽TEP바카라 사이트� to fusion electricity
The UK 바카라 사이트 is committing 拢220M to the conceptual design of a fusion power station 바카라 사이트� the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP).
Illustration of spherical tokamak power plant concept
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP, announced the funding package during a visit to the UK Atomic Energy Authority바카라 사이트檚 Culham Science Centre HQ in Oxfordshire 바카라 사이트� the UK바카라 사이트檚 world-leading fusion research laboratory.
Fusion offers a virtually limitless source of cleaner electricity by copying the processes that power the Sun 바카라 사이트� the collision of hydrogen atoms to release large amounts of energy. Researchers around the globe are now developing fusion reactors that can turn this into a commercial technology to help satisfy the world바카라 사이트檚 ever-increasing demand for energy.
STEP will be an innovative plan for a commercially-viable fusion power station 바카라 사이트� offering the realistic prospect of constructing a powerplant by 2040. The investment will allow engineers and scientists to produce a conceptual design for the reactor (known as a 바카라 사이트榯okamak바카라 사이트�) that will generate fusion energy and convert it into electricity. UKAEA and partners from industry and academia will pool their expertise to complete the design by 2024.
The STEP programme will create 300 jobs directly, with even more in the UK fusion supply chain. In addition, the spin-outs from the design work are expected to be enormous 바카라 사이트� both in terms of synergies with other fusion powerplant design activities (such as Europe바카라 사이트檚 바카라 사이트楧EMO바카라 사이트� prototype power station) and other hi-tech industries.
STEP builds on UKAEA바카라 사이트檚 expertise in developing so-called 바카라 사이트榮pherical tokamaks바카라 사이트� 바카라 사이트� compact and efficient fusion devices that could offer an economical route to commercial fusion power. The new MAST Upgrade spherical tokamak experiment is due to start operations at Culham early in 2020. Its work will play a key role in the STEP design.
Andrea Leadsom, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said: 바카라 사이트淭his is a bold and ambitious investment in the energy technology of the future. Fusion has the potential to be an unlimited clean, safe and carbon-free energy source and we want the first commercially viable machine to be in the U.K.
바카라 사이트淭his long-term investment will build on the UK바카라 사이트檚 scientific leadership, driving advancements in materials science, plasma physics and robotics to support new hi-tech jobs and exports.바카라 사이트�
Professor Ian Chapman, CEO of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, added: 바카라 사이트淭he UK has a proud heritage of pioneering developments in fusion research. This announcement demonstrates the UK government바카라 사이트檚 commitment to translating that R&D leadership into a working fusion reactor. We are excited to work with our partners to take the next step towards a fusion-powered future.바카라 사이트�
If your company or research organisation is interested in taking part in STEP, more information about the project is here: /government/news/next-step-in-fusion
The STEP Procurement Plan Schedule is available here: /government/publications/step-procurment-opportunities
Contact: For more information please contact Nick Holloway, UKAEA Media Manager, on 01235 466232 or nick.holloway@ukaea.uk.
Updates to this page
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Change from nuclear fusion to fusion energy wording
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First published.