UK and US fusion strike partnership to accelerate clean energy
UK and US set to sign agreements at the Global Fusion Summit to combine expertise in AI, computing and fusion and to cooperate on regulating fusion energy
- UK and US to sign a new agreement on fusion and AI to accelerate commercial fusion energy rollout and thousands of jobs in both countries
- Further transatlantic supercomputing partnership announced between UK and US national laboratories, combining AI, advanced computing and fusion expertise to bring the clean energy of the future closer to reality
- Summit builds on the government’s record £2.5 billion investment in fusion and the landmark UK-US ‘golden age’ nuclear deal, helping deliver over 10,000 jobs in the UK
The UK and US are set to sign two new agreements at the Global Fusion Summit in London on Monday 14 September, helping to bring fusion power closer to reality and deliver over 10,000 UK jobs in the sector by 2030.
The first agreement will launch a new supercomputing partnership between the UK Atomic Energy Authority and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, combining world-leading expertise in AI, computing and fusion to accelerate the development of commercial fusion.
The summit will also see the UK and US sign a Joint Statement committing to closer cooperation on regulating fusion energy, helping to attract investment and support growth of the sector.
Fusion replicates the process that powers the sun, combining hydrogen atoms to release vast amounts of energy. It has the potential to provide a secure source of clean energy for generations to come, without producing carbon emissions during operation, while creating thousands of skilled jobs, backing British businesses and unlocking significant economic opportunities for the UK.
Minister for Energy, Michael Shanks, said:
"Fusion has the potential to provide virtually limitless clean energy while supporting more than 10,000 jobs across the UK by 2030, attracting investment and creating major opportunities for British businesses.
"By strengthening our partnership with the US we’re accelerating the race to commercial fusion, turning cutting-edge research into economic growth and cementing Britain’s position as a world leader in fusion energy."
FCDO Minister for the Americas, Chris Elmore said:
"The UK’s relationship with the United States supports growth and thousands of jobs at home.
"By bringing together world-leading expertise in fusion, artificial intelligence and advanced computing, we’re helping British businesses and researchers access the investment, knowledge and international partnerships needed to succeed in the industries of the future."
On top of the UK-US agreements, The University of Birmingham, Electric Power Research Institute and industry partners have secured a £2.63 million collaboration on fusion materials, strengthening UK industrial capability and supporting international collaboration in one of the world’s most promising emerging technologies.
Japan’s largest fusion company, Kyoto Fusioneering, will also invest up to £3 million in the UK through Project ALBION, supporting the development and testing of materials for the UK government-backed STEP programme, which is designing a prototype fusion power plant.
The announcements come as the UK publishes its UK Fusion Investment Prospectus, setting out the UK’s offer for companies and investors today and preparing to capture the opportunities in a future global fusion market estimated to be worth between £3 trillion and £12 trillion, establishing the UK as a leading destination for fusion. The prospectus will help turn Britain’s world-leading fusion research into a new clean energy industry, attracting companies to invest, build and create skilled jobs in the UK.
From: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Michael Shanks MP and Chris Elmore MP