UKAEA launches fusion roadmap to 2030

The roadmap, which builds on the government’s recently released fusion strategy, outlines a number of objectives for 2030.

These include support to complete a detailed design of a prototype fusion power plant, increasing the number of UK companies delivering fusion products and services globally and growing the next generation of fusion scientists and other associated expertise. 

It also is proposed to complete the new research facilities at the Culham Campus near Oxford, where UKAEA is primarily headquartered. 

Commenting, Dr Tim Bestwick, UKAEA CEO, said: “We are focused on technical excellence and delivery in key technology areas essential for future fusion power plants and building a thriving commercial industry to support fusion.” 

Also of interest 
Proxima Fusion steps toward commercial fusion in Europe

The challenges set out in the strategy are to develop an effective fusion core, i.e. to deliver sufficient power output from the fusion machine, to achieve fuel self sufficiency without the need for a sustained external supply and to integrate the diverse components and systems into one installation with all done in a way that can deliver a realistically affordable and deployable power plant. 

To address these challenges, UKAEA will focus its work with industry and academia to build knowledge and capability across the technical disciplines required. 

These include plasma understanding and control, fuel cycle development, advanced materials, robotics and automation, fusion technologies including high-temperature superconducting magnets, components production, integration and design and advanced computing. 

In terms of delivery, UKAEA is being allocated almost £2.5 billion from government between 2025-26 and 2029-30, of which over half, £1.3 billion, is to be expended on the next phase of delivering the STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) prototype plant at West Burton in Nottinghamshire. 

UKAEA’s National Fusion Laboratory’s R&D infrastructure and facilities is set to receive £920 million, its projects and programmes focused on internationally collaborative research, innovation and commercialisation receive £190 million and development of the AI growth zone (AIGZ) at Culham, including the new ‘Sunrise’ fusion-dedicated supercomputer and other computing facilities due for delivery later in 2026, receives £125 million. 

Fusion skills development is in line for £50 million, with training envisaged for over 2,000 people in fusion related disciplines by mid-2027. 

Alongside the strategy the UKAEA also is launching an SME guide to facilitate SMEs to navigate opportunities in the fusion supply chain, the Diagnostics Centre for Excellence (DICE) at the Culham campus to strengthen the UK’s position in fusion diagnostics and the Cumbria Robotics Operation Skills Centre (CROSS) to build the robotics workforce needed for fusion. 

STEP fusion moving to delivery 

With the launch of the UK fusion strategy in March 2026, the STEP fusion programme is reported as moving from possibility to delivery. 

Alongside the UKAEA roadmap, UK Fusion Energy, which is leading the delivery of the STEP programme, has released its strategy including the assembly of industrial partners and supply chains for the full suite of technologies and systems required. 

The latest steps are awards to Tokamak Energy as the magnet systems partner and Dassault Systèmes to support digital delivery. 

Under a £70 million contract, Culham-based Tokamak Energy is due to deliver work packages for high temperature superconducting magnets as well as to provide continued use of its ST40 compact, high field spherical tokamak. 

The £30 million contract with Dassault Systèmes is set to expand delivery and capability within the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, a core part of STEP's plant information management system (PIMS) where technical teams and partners can design data, requirements, simulations and system models in a shared environment. 

Previously, ILIOS Consortium had been named as the construction partner for the STEP programme. 

Paul Methven, CEO of UK Fusion Energy, commented that fusion is a transformative opportunity and the UK is exceptionally well placed to seize it. 

“UK Fusion Energy is in a strong position to move into delivery. Not only do we have our strategy to 2040, but we also have our construction partner, magnets partner and information systems contract in place, with site ownership of West Burton now transferred to UKAEA. This marks a critical milestone as we make fusion energy a reality for the UK.”