A shortlist of five sites has been announced to potentially host the UK’s first nuclear fusion power station, which could create thousands of jobs as part of efforts to meet net-zero carbon emissions targets.
The Government’s Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production – or STEP – project is the first stage in the UK’s bid to become the first country to commercialise fusion energy to meet future electricity needs.
The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has said that fusion has the potential to provide a source of low-carbon energy that creates nearly four million times more energy for every kilogram of fuel than burning coal, oil or gas.
The plant’s construction and operation also has the potential to create thousands of highly skilled jobs and attract other high-tech industries to its host region, furthering the development of science and technology capabilities locally and nationally.
Some £220m has been invested into finding an appropriate site for the project, which UKAEA is hoping could be operational by 2040.
A total of 15 sites across the country were long-listed following an open call for sites between December 2020 and March 2021.
Following the first phase of assessment, the following locations have been shortlisted:
- Ardeer (North Ayrshire)
- Goole (East Riding of Yorkshire)
- Moorside (Cumbria)
- Ratcliffe-on-Soar (Nottinghamshire)
- Severn Edge (South Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire)
STEP programme director Paul Methven said the UKAEA would work with each site and their local communities to gain a more in-depth understanding of the socio-economic, commercial and technical conditions of each bid.
The UKAEA will then make a final recommendation to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with the successful site announced around the end of 2022.
Mr Methven said: “The shortlisting of sites is a significant step for the programme as it helps bring this challenging, long-term endeavour to life in the here and now.
“It also increases our focus as we push on with design and delivery of what we hope is the world’s first fusion power plant prototype.”
George Freeman, minister for science, research and innovation said: “Fusion energy has the potential to be a truly revolutionary and inexhaustible energy source that can help us reduce our dependence on unreliable fossil fuels and tackle climate change.”
“By building the foundations to unlock the power of fusion energy, including the location of the UK’s first prototype fusion power plant, we are positioning the UK as a global leader in this safe and sustainable power source.”
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