In a move that could revolutionize the energy landscape, an ambitious nuclear fusion project is underway in Nottinghamshire, aiming to recreate the power of the sun right here on Earth. Dubbed the “UK’s Nasa moment,” the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) project is racing to become the first of its kind in the world.
The experimental facility, located at the decommissioned West Burton A power station near Retford, was showcased at a launch event in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, on Tuesday. The project is led by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UK IFS), a subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority.
Nuclear fusion, the process of combining atomic particles to release vast amounts of energy, is a cleaner alternative to the nuclear fission currently used in some power stations. If plans are approved, the STEP project is expected to be completed by 2040.
Professor David Gann, chair of UK IFS, expressed his enthusiasm for the project: “We’re on the cusp of creating an energy source for the world which will be transformative. We’re turning science into reality right here in Nottinghamshire. It’s a magnificent opportunity for any region to take on. We’ll see all sorts of new sectors opening up in robotics, AI, engineering, manufacturing, and materials, and new companies growing.”
Claire Ward, the East Midlands’ elected mayor, echoed this excitement: “It’s the UK’s Nasa moment – the chance to develop brand new technology and change the world. We’re incredibly lucky to be the place where fusion will start and will build great opportunities for people in this region – and it’s a global opportunity too.”
The project is expected to create hundreds of jobs during the design phase, thousands during construction, and hundreds more for long-term operation. The bidding process to find companies to handle construction and engineering opened in May, with shortlists to be drawn up in October.
