New appointments for STEP prototype fusion energy plant

The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has made four key appointments to support the delivery of a prototype fusion energy powerplant being built at West Burton, Nottinghamshire.

The Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme aims to generate electricity for the National Grid in the 2040s.

Professor Chris Waldon, formerly STEP delivery director, is announced as STEP chief engineer. He joined UKAEA in 2003 and became the founder of the Central Engineering Department and chief engineer. He will be accountable for all prototype powerplant design decisions.

Debbie Kempton joins as STEP director of engineering programme, responsible for the overall engineering programme in addition to developing links with industry to support STEP’s concept design. She previously worked at BAE Systems as group engineering director. 

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Sounak (Sho) Dutta joins as STEP director of supply chain and commercial. Sho will have responsibility for sourcing STEP construction and engineering Whole Plant Partners (WPP) within an overall collaborative team model, and for sourcing and integration of STEP system partners as the programme develops.

Dr James R. Cowan has been appointed as STEP director of programme development, responsible for programme and project management across the whole programme, development of the future home of STEP at West Burton, regulatory engagement and development, and transition to a new operating model.

Paul Methven, UKAEA’s director of STEP, said: “I welcome the breadth of experience that Chris, Debbie, James and Sho bring to our programme, as we strive to deliver something that has never been attempted before - the design, construction, and operation of a prototype fusion energy powerplant, and, through that endeavour, stimulating a new supply chain.”

The delivery of STEP will transfer to UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd (UKIFS) in 2024, a subsidiary of UKAEA. Earlier this month, Professor David Gann was announced as the inaugural Chair of UKIFS and the search for its first chief executive officer will commence in the coming weeks.

UKAEA is STEP’s fusion partner with tenders for construction and engineering partners (Whole Plant Partners) expected to be released in August 2023.