The government has announced that the West Burton power station site in
Nottinghamshire has been selected as the home for ‘STEP’
(Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production), the UK’s prototype fusion energy
plant which aims to be built by 2040.
Fusion is based on the same physical reactions that power the sun and stars,
and is the process by which 2 light atomic nuclei combine while releasing large
amounts of energy.
This technology has significant potential to deliver safe, sustainable, low
carbon energy for future generations.
The government-backed STEP
programme will create thousands of highly skilled jobs during construction and
operations, as well as attracting other high tech industries to the region, and
furthering the development of science and technology capabilities nationally.
The ambitious programme will also commit immediately to the development of
apprenticeship schemes in the region, building on the success of the UK Atomic
Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) Oxfordshire Advanced Skills centre in Culham. Conversations
with local providers and employers have already begun, with schemes to start as
soon as possible.
The UK government is providing £220 million of funding for the first phase
of STEP, which
will see the UK Atomic Energy Authority produce a concept design by 2024.
