Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 30
30
Accepted
Integrate fusion research and development into the Government's long-term energy plan.
Recommendation
To maximise the benefits that we gain from investment in fusion requires a long-term approach to give confidence and stability to investors and international partners and so we recommend that fusion is a part of the Government’s long-term energy plan. (Paragraph 146) Nuclear skills gap
Government Response Summary
The government has accepted the recommendation, detailing over £700 million in investments for UKAEA, including £240 million for the STEP Programme to build a prototype fusion power plant by 2040, and an additional £650 million for R&D until 2027. These commitments show fusion is a long-term part of the energy strategy.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Over 2021/22 to 2024/25, we are investing over £700 million to the UKAEA’s cutting edge research programmes and facilities to grow the capability of UK industry and make the UK the global hub for fusion innovation. Included in this is a £240m commitment towards the first phase of the STEP Programme - to develop and build, by 2040, a prototype fusion power plant capable of delivering energy to the UK grid. On top of the above allocation, in November 2022 we announced an additional £126 million to support UK R&D Programmes. In September, we announced that the UK has decided to pursue its own cutting-edge suite of new, alternative R&D programmes to support the UK’s flourishing fusion sector. To deliver this, the government plans to invest up to £650 million until 2027.