Interior of the MAST upgrade spherical tokamak. Credit: UK Atomic Energy Authority
As part of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme, the UK government has selected the West Burton power station site in Nottinghamshire to house a prototype fusion energy plant.
West Burton A power station was originally excluded from the five shortlisted sites for the project, which included Ardeer, North Ayrshire; Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire; Moorside, Cumbria; Ratcliffe-on-Soar, Nottinghamshire and Severn Edge, Gloucestershire.
However, after Ratcliffe-on-Soar was excluded due to land availability, EDF’s West Burton was moved from the reserve list to the shortlist.
The STEP programme aims to demonstrate commercial fusion with a spherical tokamak connected to the national grid.
The UK government is providing £220 million ($250 million) for the first phase of STEP, which will see the UK Atomic Energy Authority producing a concept design by 2024. The concept design includes an outline of the power plant, with a clear view of the design of each of the major systems.
In phase 2, the design will be developed while all consent and permissions to build the plant will be sought.
Phase 3 will see construction begin on the prototype plant, expected to be complete by 2040.
According to the UKAEA, the programme is committed to the development of apprenticeship schemes and skills development programmes in the area. Furthermore, the programme is expected to create a number of jobs throughout the construction and operations phases.
