No overall cost has been given for the project, though £2 billion has reportedly been suggested, with critics saying it will be much higher.
The plan has been backed by the UK Government, which has promised £222 million for STEP. In December 2020 it invited bids by 31 March from communities across the UK to provide a site of 100 hectares or more for the reactor, known as Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP). Now the UK Atomic Energy Authority, based at Culham, wants to build a prototype fusion reactor to generate a surplus of 100 megawatts of electricity. A small experimental JET fusion reactor at Culham in Oxfordshire has consumed more energy than it has produced. Fusion aims to replicate reactions in the sun by forcing together hydrogen atoms to form helium and release heat.īut the process requires substantial energy to superheat the hydrogen, and then to control the resulting plasma with huge magnets. It is very different from the nuclear fission that generates electricity in existing reactors such as those at Hunterston in North Ayrshire and Torness in East Lothian.įission involves splitting atoms of uranium to generate heat to turn turbines to produce power. Nuclear fusion has been the Holy Grail for some in the nuclear industry for decades. The Scottish Government says it needs to know more about the costs, safety and effectiveness of the technology. įor more details, please see our privacy notice.Developers, however, brand nuclear fusion as “one of the world’s cleanest and lowest carbon forms of energy”. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email, or by emailing us at. We will never give your details to anyone else without your consent. We will only use your email address to send you the newsletters you have requested. News from Dezeen Events Guide, a listings guide covering the leading design-related events taking place around the world. News about our Dezeen Awards programme, including entry deadlines and announcements. Dezeen Jobsĭaily updates on the latest design and architecture vacancies advertised on Dezeen Jobs. Dezeen DailyĪ daily newsletter containing the latest stories from Dezeen.
Plus occasional updates on Dezeen’s services and breaking news. Sent every Tuesday and containing a selection of the most important news highlights. Sent every Thursday and featuring a selection of the best reader comments and most talked-about stories. Our most popular newsletter, formerly known as Dezeen Weekly. However, the International Energy Agency recently said achieving net-zero by 2050 will be the "greatest challenge humankind has ever faced" and that many government pledges "fall well short" of what is required. "Fusion energy has great potential as a source of limitless, low-carbon energy, and today's announcement is a clear vote of confidence in the region and the UK's status as a global science superpower." "This new plant by General Fusion is a huge boost for our plans to develop a fusion industry in the UK, and I'm thrilled that Culham will be home to such a cutting-edge and potentially transformative project," said science minister Amanda Solloway. The UK government has been investing in fusion technology over the past decade in the hope it could play a part in making the UK net-zero by 2050. "Fusion energy is inherently safe, with zero possibility of a meltdown scenario," explained General Fusion when the Fusion Demonstration Plant proposal was first revealed in 2020.įusion is a "limitless, low-carbon energy" source A nuclear fusion reactor will be positioned at its heart This means that if it proves to be viable, it could help play a key role in decarbonising the UK's power grid, which remains heavily reliant on burning fossil fuels.Īnother benefit of using nuclear fusion to create electricity is that it creates very little radioactive waste when compared to traditional nuclear power plants that rely on fission. However, as the plant will be 70 per cent of the size needed for a commercial power plant, it will not actually be used to generate power.Īs MTF only requires hydrogen as a fuel and its main waste product is helium, the Fusion Demonstration Plant demonstrates a carbon-free way to create electricity.
This process creates a huge amount of heat that is transferred by the liquid metal to boil water, make steam and spin a turbine to generate electricity. Related story China plans solar power station in space