UK STEP fusion plant programme has spent nearly £120m on design and backs more than 370 British suppliers

UK Fusion Energy/STEP Fusion

The UK's STEP fusion power plant programme, sited at West Burton in Nottinghamshire, has put nearly £120 million into design work, and more than 370 UK suppliers have benefited. The programme says it has moved from concept to preliminary design and expanded its technology demonstration.

• ILIOS Consortium was appointed as construction partner and Tokamak Energy as the programme's first system partner.
• Part of the West Burton site has been acquired to host the plant; 49 of the suppliers are from the area around it.
• About £1.3 billion of the £2.5 billion government fusion funding over five years is allocated to STEP; about 80% of spending stays in the UK.
• For 2026/27 the programme plans more design work, planning engagement and technology demonstration before later delivery phases.