Credit: iStock – murat deniz
The UK has signed two agreements with the US aimed at accelerating the roll-out of commercial fusion energy. The government says the deals, signed today at the Global Fusion Summit, could create 10,000 jobs by 2030.
The first agreement will see a new supercomputing partnership between the UK Atomic Energy Authority and Princeton Plasma Physics laboratory, which will combine expertise in AI, computing and fusion to speed up development of commercial fusion.
The two countries also signed a Joint Statement committing to closer cooperation on regulating fusion energy.
Energy minister Michael Shanks said: ‘By strengthening our partnership with the US we’re accelerating the race to commercial fusion, turning cutting-edge research into economic growth and cementing Britain’s position as a world leader in fusion energy.’
Fusion replicates the process that powers the sun, combining hydrogen atoms to release vast amounts of energy.
At the summit the UK also published its UK Fusion Investment Prospectus, aimed at attracting investors in the global fusion market, which is estimated to be worth £3–12 trillion.
The government also announced that the University of Birmingham, Electric Power Research Institute and industry partners have secured a £2.63 million collaboration on fusion materials.
They also said Japan’s largest fusion company, Kyoto Fusioneering, will be investing up to £3 million in the UK through Project Albion, supporting the development and testing of materials for the UK government-backed Step programme, which is designing a prototype fusion power plant.
