UKIFS publishes first Annual Report on the progress of STEP fusion project

The UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS), the organisation leading the UK Government’s STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme, has published its first Annual Report and Accounts, marking a year of milestones and outlining how operations will be scaled up to deliver the world’s first prototype fusion power plant, located in West Burton, Nottinghamshire

The STEP programme will demonstrate net energy from fusion and develop a new industrial sector, creating thousands of jobs and long-term economic benefits.

The design concept phase of the STEP Fusion project has been completed, and Government backing has been secured for the next phase of the programme, which will take the design concept to whole-plant delivery.

2025 has seen innovations and breakthroughs for the project, including:

• Digital design integration through a new Product Lifecycle Management system.
• Over 500 suppliers are involved, 83% of which are UK-based.
• Technology breakthroughs such as the validation of the Super-X Divertor on MAST-U, which is the exhaust system unique to the tokamak prototype, fusion-grade steel, and STEP’s pioneering work in magnets and plasma confinement.
• Geotechnical studies, biodiversity strategy, and master planning are taking place at the West Burton site.
• STEP is positioned as the primary project for the Trent Clean Energy Supercluster.

The next four-year phase of the STEP programme, Tranche 2a, has begun. This phase will start the project's scale-up, involving embedding industry partners into the programme, maturing the overall plant design, demonstrating critical technologies, and preparing for planning consent at West Burton.

The tranche brings new challenges, such as integrating public and private sector expertise into a single team, managing complexity at pace, and maintaining confidence in design and technology as the concept advances into engineering. The programme is also building the supply chain and securing the necessary skills for the project.

Professor David Gann, chair of UKIFS, said, “I’m inspired by what we’ve achieved together in such a short time. UKIFS has a truly transformed purpose: to lead and integrate the capability and know-how to deliver the commercial fusion energy plants of the future. Building on a fantastic first year, we now accelerate into the next tranche of the STEP programme, shifting gears as we integrate industry partners. The road ahead is steep, but I’m excited by what lies ahead.”

Paul Methven, CEO of UKIFS, said, “Launching UKIFS was a pivotal moment for the STEP programme and for the UK’s clean energy future. We’ve moved from concept to delivery, establishing the foundation for success and securing approval for the next four years of work. Now we scale up, tackle and solve big challenges head-on. Integrating industry partners, maturing complex designs and demonstrating critical technologies at pace will test us, but it’s exactly what’s needed to prove fusion’s potential and create a pathway to commercial viability.”