The government has chosen the site of a former coal and gas power plant in Nottinghamshire as the location for a prototype nuclear fusion power station. This is set to pave the way for a new type of low-carbon power in the UK.
The government announced that West Burton will be the site of the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) first fusion power station. It is set to generate zero carbon power for the grid by 2040.
Site for the prototype nuclear fusion power station includes the West Burton A power station. It also includes over 750 acres of surrounding land. The bid’s supporters applauded the government’s decision to select West Burton. There were a pool of 15 sites that submitted bids to host the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) project.
Benefits of the prototype nuclear fusion power station
They stated that the plant would benefit from being located in a region with a history of energy generation. It is also close to “world-leading” research capabilities at regional universities, as well as manufacturing and construction firms.
Sir John Peace, chairman of the Midlands Engine partnership, which also backed West Burton’s application, called the project a “unrivalled opportunity” to create high-quality jobs, build a world-class supply chain, and strengthen the regional skills base in an area that has long been underinvested.
Midlands Energy and Energy Research Accelerator states that the prototype nuclear fusion power station project could generate 600 permanent high-quality jobs in the region. It would also create thousands more in construction and supply chains.
Nuclear fusion, by harnessing a process that powers stars like the sun, is thought to have the potential to provide an almost infinite supply of low-carbon energy. Advocates argue that the approach is based on low-cost raw materials. Furthermore, it is inherently safer than conventional nuclear power plants. This is because it does not trigger chain reactions.
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Nuclear fusion projects in the UK
However, decades of research have yet to yield a commercial reactor. Some campaigners have repeatedly warned that the first wave of commercial nuclear fusion projects will not be ready to influence global greenhouse gas emissions curves in time to meet climate goals. This is even with the most optimistic timetables for the technology.
The government has set aside £220 million to the STEP programme’s first phase. This devotes the UK Atomic Energy Authority to developing a concept design for its prototype by 2024.
The Burton of West Burton A power station, one of Britain’s two remaining coal-fired power plants, was scheduled to close in September 2022. However, its life was extended earlier this year until next spring. This was in response to the energy supply constraints caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
