UK government calls on regions to host ground-breaking clean energy power plant

The government has today invited UK regions and communities, coordinated by local authorities, to put forward proposals to become the home of STEP – Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production – the UK’s ambitious programme to design and build a prototype fusion power plant.

Fusion offers a virtually limitless source of clean electricity by copying the processes that power the sun.

The successful site will become a global hub for fusion energy and associated industries, creating thousands of local highly skilled jobs during the construction and operation of the plant.

It follows the Prime Minister’s ten-point plan for a Green Industrial Revolution set out last week, which committed to doubling down on the UK’s ambition to be the first country in the world to commercialise fusion energy technology with £222M allocated to begin the STEP design work. This will help the UK sustain its net zero target after 2050.

STEP will be delivered, through the UK Atomic Energy Authority, which carries out fusion energy research on behalf of the government.

Aston spoke to Professor Ian Chapman, CEO of UK Atomic Energy Authority to discuss the programme and also the effects of fusion energy.