UKAEA confirms partners to advance fusion
UK Atomic Energy Authority has confirmed several partners to help advance its STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme as it seeks to demonstrate the commercial viability of fusion energy.
Led by Atkins and energy transition specialists Assystem, the partners will inform the development of the concept design for STEP, which is one of the programme’s key objectives in Tranche 1.
Tristram Denton, Head of Commercial and Programme Development for STEP, says,’Fusion has great potential to deliver safe, sustainable, low carbon energy for generations to come... It’s an ambitious programme operating at the forefront of science, technology and engineering.’
In addition, UKAEA has teamed up with Oxford Sigma (OS), Frazer-Nash Consultancy (FNC) and TÜV UK to train the next generation of fusion engineers in tackling the engineering challenges of commercial fusion energy.
The announcement of STEP’s site location is expected later this year following UKAEA’s recommendation to the Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
