STEP forward to fusion
UKAEA confirms partners to help advance STEP and the commercial viability of fusion energy.
STEP - the UK's first prototype fusion energy powerplant
UK Atomic Energy Authority has confirmed several partners this month to help advance its ambitious 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 Tranche 1 Engineering Delivery Partner will play a critical role in STEP鈥檚 ambitions to design and build a commercial-scale prototype fusion energy plant through to March 2024. 皇冠体育app partners will inform the development of the concept design for STEP, which is one of the programme鈥檚 key objectives in Tranche 1.
Tristram Denton, Head of Commercial and Programme Development for STEP, said: 鈥淔usion has great potential to deliver safe, sustainable, low carbon energy for generations to come, and STEP is leading the way. It鈥檚 an ambitious programme operating at the forefront of science, technology and engineering.
鈥淚t鈥檚 clear we must make significant changes to address the effects of climate change, and STEP鈥檚 delivery partners will play a crucial role in our quest to making fusion a reality.鈥�
Meanwhile, UKAEA has teamed up with Oxford Sigma (OS), Frazer-Nash Consultancy (FNC) and T脺V UK to train the next generation of fusion engineers in tackling the engineering challenges of commercial fusion energy.
Training material developed in conjunction with UKAEA鈥檚 partners will ensure fusion engineers are equipped with state-of-the-art skills on designing for, and mitigating against, radiation damage in fusion energy devices.
Terry Thompson, STEP Control Systems Lead, UKAEA, said: 鈥淭hrough UKAEA鈥檚 collaboration with OS, FNC and T脺V UK we have managed to bring together a body of material which represents the leading edge in relation to international understanding of radiation effects and good design practices, which will drive forward the development of the first fusion power plants and fusion energy as a commercial reality.鈥�
Mark Anderton, Engineer at Oxford Sigma, added: 鈥溁使谔逵齛pp skills and guidance provided in the training package we鈥檝e produced in partnership with UKAEA, Frazer-Nash, and T脺V UK are聽invaluable resources for the next generation of engineers. It is an exciting step forward in achieving fusion whilst simultaneously supporting the young people tasked with our future.鈥�
皇冠体育app announcement of STEP鈥檚 site location is expected later this year following UKAEA鈥檚 recommendation to the Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
皇冠体育app STEP site will become a global hub for a wide range of engineering, technological and scientific expertise, leading to massive economic opportunities for the UK.
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