Britain’s drive to become a significant power in clean energy has taken what is hoped to be a major step forward with the launch of a new government strategy aimed at accelerating the development of fusion energy.
The STEP Fusion programme is intended to lead to the first working fusion prototype power plant at the site of the former West Burton power station in Nottinghamshire, England. The government’s new Fusion Strategy, revealed today by Lord Vallance, minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear, sets out a route map for attracting private investment and building a home-grown fusion energy industry.
In another mark of progress, the government has also announced the appointment of a construction partner which will speed-up the £200m redevelopment of West Burton into a world-class destination for energy innovation. The construction partner has been named as the ILIOS consortium, led by UK construction major Kier Group and Nuvia. With partners Bam Nuttall, A–LA, Aecom and Turner & Townsend, they will redevelop the site of the former coal-fired power station, which closed down in 2023 after 57 years of energy generation.
UK Fusion Energy CEO Paul Methven said the new strategy and the appointment of a construction partner marks a decisive shift from research to delivery for STEP Fusion. As the appointed Construction Partner, ILIOS will be responsible for every aspect of construction at the West Burton site, including, from acting as the principal design and build contractor, through to providing continuity and capability across a build programme leading to the prototype fusion plant’s planned operation in 2040.
The government’s new Fusion Strategy will also support the development of the world’s most powerful fusion supercomputer. Backed by a £45m investment, the Sunrise AI Supercomputer will accelerate fusion design, modelling and operation.
STEP Fusion’s progress is expected to bring substantial benefits to people, businesses and the wider economy across the UK’s East Midlands, Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire areas, particularly in new skilled jobs from site redevelopment works through to operations, with supply chain mobilisation and major test facilities and programmes.
STEP Fusion, delivered by UK Fusion Energy, a UKAEA‑owned company, is the UK’s programme to design, build and operate the first prototype fusion plant at West Burton, targeting first operations in the 2040s.
