Today marks a significant milestone on the journey towards the commercialisation of fusion energy with the launch of the search for industrial partners in engineering and construction to join us in designing and delivering the UK’s prototype fusion energy plant, STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production).
STEP will be built at West Burton, a former coal-fired power station site in Nottinghamshire, and aims to demonstrate net energy from fusion in the 2040s. Importantly, STEP will also pave the way for an industry capable of delivering commercial fusion for decades.
Launching today (May 22nd), this multi-stage competition aims to find industry partners — one in engineering and one in construction — to form a world-leading public-private alliance led by UKIFS, a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) Group.
This team will deliver the STEP prototype fusion plant, with UKAEA as fusion partner, providing specialised expertise and resources as part of the integrated team.
The successful engineering and construction partners will deliver work in successive packages, cumulatively worth hundreds of millions of pounds during the initial contract period until 2029, with the contracts building progressively in line with the development of the prototype plant.
Once the initial stage of the selection process is complete, UKIFS will enter detailed discussions with shortlisted companies.
Supply Chain Development
A crucial part of STEP’s mission is to develop a world-leading fusion supply chain, ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of this emerging industry. The STEP programme aims to pave the way for the commercialisation of fusion, creating suppliers ranging from whole plant integrators to critical system manufacturers that can design and deliver future plants worldwide.
STEP is at the heart of the UK Government’s Fusion Strategy, which has two goals: 1. for the UK to demonstrate the commercial viability of fusion by building a prototype fusion powerplant in the UK that delivers net energy; and 2. for the UK to build a world-leading fusion industry which can export fusion technology around the world in subsequent decades.
Minister for Nuclear and Renewables, Andrew Bowie, recently noted, “Fusion could provide a near limitless source of energy, and the UK is leading the way in harnessing this power to deliver long-term energy independence. Building STEP is a major opportunity for the sector, providing investment and jobs in a former industrial area of Nottinghamshire.”
Together with our partners, we will leverage the UK’s renowned status in fusion research and development to lead the delivery of a fusion energy sector that will help meet global energy demand in the second half of this century.
Following the appointment of these strategic partners, there will be significant opportunities for the broader supply chain which will come forward progressively, building the fusion businesses of the future.
Together, we can lead the world in making fusion energy a reality.
Paul Methven is CEO of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of UKAEA
To find out more about STEP, visit: step.ukaea.uk.
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