A list of potential locations where a prototype fusion energy power plant could be built has been unveiled.
The list, which features 15 sites around the UK, was made after an open call was initiated for possible fusion energy power plant hosts in December 2020 according to an article on gov.uk.
An announcement for the chosen site is set to happen towards the end of 2022. A technical assessment on each of the sites will now commence.
Here is the list:
Dounreay – (Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership)
East Airdrie – (Fusion Forward (East Airdrie) Consortium )
Poneil – (Fusion Forward (Poneil) Consortium)
Ardeer – (Fusion Forward (Ardeer) Consortium)
Chapelcross – (South of Scotland Enterprise)
Moorside – (Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, in partnership with Copeland Borough Council)
Bay Fusion (Heysham) – (Collaboration between industry, Lancaster City Council, Lancashire County Council and Lancaster University)
Goole – (East Riding of Yorkshire Council)
West Burton – (Nottinghamshire County Council)
Ratcliffe on Soar – (Nottinghamshire County Council)
Pembroke – (Pembrokeshire County Council)
Severn Edge (Oldbury/Berkeley) – (Western Gateway)
Aberthaw – (Vale of Glamorgan Council)
Bridgwater Bay – (Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership)
Bradwell (Essex) – (Belport Ltd)
Fusion is the process that fuels the power emitted by the sun and the stars. It is thought that replicating this within a fusion power plant will unearth a much greener and low-carbon source of energy.
Each of the locations are looking to be the chosen home for the STEP plant – the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production, which is a project run by The UK Atomic Energy Agency (UKAEA). This plant will hope to lay the foundations for commercial fusion power, whilst also creating thousands of jobs for the community.
“The publication of the longlist of sites is the next stage in the process of finding a home for STEP. STEP is about building on the amazing science done over decades in fusion and translating that into a real prototype power plant that paves the way for this fantastic new energy source,” said Paul Methven, programme director for STEP.
The UKAEA are aiming to have a concept design of the plant ready by 2024, with first operations hoping to commence by the early 2040s.
You can learn more about this project in episode 96 of Engineering Matters – Fusion: Britain Builds a Star, which was released in March 2021. Click here to listen.
