[VIDEO] UKIFS announces construction partners shortlist for prototype fusion energy plant

The shortlists for Engineering Partner and Construction Partner to develop a prototype fusion energy plant in West Burton in Nottinghamshire have been released

The West Burton prototype fusion energy plant project is part of the STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme, which will be delivered by a public-private team comprised of UKIFS (UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd), UKAEA (UK Atomic Energy Authority) as fusion partner and the yet-to-be-chosen engineering and construction partners.

The initial contract period for both Construction and Engineering Partners will run until 2029 and is valued at several hundred million pounds. Further phases will continue the long-term collaboration that builds progressively with the programme.

STEP aims to boost the UK’s fusion industry and commercialisation potential

STEP announced that the West Burton power station site would also serve as their home in October 2022, creating several highly-skilled jobs during construction and operation of the plant, as well as benefitting surrounding industries and supply chains.

The prototype fusion power plant will create energy by heating a mixture of deuterium and tritium(both kinds of hydrogen) to form a plasma in a device called a tokamak.

@STEP

The plasma will reach temperatures ten times that of the core of the sun, but produce no carbon throughout this process. There is also no risk of a ‘runaway reaction’ with fusion- the challenge instead is maintaining the reaction, rather than controlling it.

This process creates helium and releases huge amounts of energy, which will be used to power turbines to generate electricity. It also generates a small amount of tritium, which can be circled back into the plant’s fuel.

The West Burton site will demonstrate the prototype’s net energy capabilities, fuel self-efficiency and route to plant maintenance.

The shortlisted organisations for STEP’s Engineering Partner are:

Celestial JV, consisting of Eni UK Limited as the lead member and AtkinsRealis, Jacobs Clean Energy (now Amentum), Westinghouse and Tokamak Energy as other members.
Phoenix (UK) Fusion Limited, consisting of Cavendish Nuclear Ltd as the lead member, KBR Ltd and Assystem Energy and Infrastructure Ltd as other members.

The shortlisted organisations for STEP’s Construction Partner are:

Inovus Infrastructure, consisting of Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering as the lead member and Vinci Construction, AtkinsRealis, Mott Macdonald and WSP as other members.
ILIOS, consisting of Kier Infrastructure and Overseas as the lead member and Bam Nuttal, Nuvia Limited, AECOM Ltd, Turner and Townsend Infrastructure Ltd and Amanda Levete Architects Ltd as other members.
Ferrovial Mace JV, consisting of Ferrovial Construction UK Ltd as the lead member and Mace Consult Ltd as the other member.

A crucial part of STEP’s mission is to develop a world-leading fusion supply chain to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of a new technology and emerging industry.

Ensuring the UK is at the forefront of nuclear innovation

Paul Methven, CEO of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions and senior responsible owner for STEP, said:“The announcement of shortlisted organisations for STEP’s Whole Plant Partners is a critical milestone for our mission to demonstrate fusion energy and development of a world-leading fusion supply chain that unlocks significant industrial and economic opportunities.

“Together, we aim to lead the development of a fusion energy sector that will help meet rising global energy demand as well as deliver near-term benefits for industry and for the communities that will help build STEP.”

The shortlisted companies will now enter detailed discussions known as ‘competitive dialogue’ with UKIFS as the multi-stage procurement process progresses towards final partner selection in late 2025/early 2026.

A vast range of other opportunities for the broader supply chain will follow the appointment of these strategic partners.

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