Members of Bassetlaw District Council recently visited the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s Headquarters at Culham Campus, where it is leading world-class research into fusion energy.
The delegation toured the Joint European Torus (JET) and MAST Upgrade facilities – both at the forefront of global fusion science and critical to the development of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP), the UK’s flagship programme to deliver the world’s first prototype fusion power plant by the early 2040s.
STEP will be developed at the former West Burton Power Station, positioning the West Burton at the heart of the UK’s clean energy future. The project is expected to create between 5,500 and 8,500 jobs locally and contribute over £500 million annually to the UK economy, according to an independent report by Amion.
Fusion energy, which replicates the process that powers the sun, offers a safe, virtually limitless, and carbon-free energy source. STEP aims to demonstrate the commercial viability of this technology and establish a UK-based fusion industry capable of exporting globally.
The visit provided Bassetlaw representatives with a clear view of the scale of innovation underway at Culham and the exciting opportunities ahead for their region as part of the UK’s fusion energy future. In July, the APPG will be also be taking a group of Parliamentarians to Culham to see this exciting innovation first-hand.