US DOE and UK DESNZ back a $52M upgrade of the ST40 tokamak with Tokamak Energy

Tokamak Energy/ST40

The U.S. Department of Energy, UK Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, and Tokamak Energy agreed to jointly fund a $52 million, five-year upgrade of the privately owned ST40 tokamak. The upgrade adds lithium wall coatings to improve plasma confinement with Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory expertise and pellet fueling capability with Oak Ridge support; upgrades target completion by 2027.

• Joint funding: $52M over five years; each party contributes ~$17.3M.
• Lithium coating upgrade for improved plasma confinement (Princeton Plasma expertise).
• Pellet fueling system deployment (Oak Ridge support).
• ST40 privately funded and built; represents 'huge leverage opportunity' for U.S. and U.K.