Tokamak Energy Named as Magnet Systems Partner for STEP Fusion Programme

UK Fusion Energy Ltd has announced to award a £70 million contract to Tokamak Energy, covering the period up to March 2029. Under the proposed agreement, Tokamak Energy will act as systems partner delivering eight work packages for magnets, working closely with UKFE’s integrated programme team across key areas including magnets, tokamak systems and plasma integration.

This initiative, at West Burton in the county is spearheaded by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and now led by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd (UKIFS), it positions Nottinghamshire as a leader in the green industrial revolution.

Tokamak Energy has been identified as the leading UK based manufacturing expert with the specialist capabilities required for this work. This contract also provides continued use of the company’s ST40 testing facility, a compact, high field fusion machine that has recently delivered record levels of plasma current and energy performance.

Tokamak Energy has also achieved major progress in advanced high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet systems, demonstrating magnetic field strengths and system level performance that support the UK’s ambition to lead in next generation fusion magnet technology.

Tokamak Energy and UKFE bring together decades of developed expertise in high field magnet systems and spherical tokamak operation. They form a combined capability to deliver STEP Fusion at pace, accelerates learning cycles and help to reduce risk in the early cycle of the wider STEP programme. With Tokamak Energy being the UK’s only manufacturer with this specialist HTS and high field expertise, this contract secures essential domestic capability.

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Dan Bishop, Chief Commercial Officer at UKFE, said:

“This partnership is about delivering together. Tokamak Energy brings the complementary skills, facilities and experience to move at pace. Our mission to deliver the STEP programme objectives is enhanced by this partnership.”

Warrick Matthews, Tokamak Energy CEO, said:

“Confirming our position in the UK’s world-leading fusion programme is a proud day for Tokamak Energy. HTS magnets are a transformative technology essential for delivering energy-producing fusion devices like STEP and unlocking new levels of performance in other sectors. Our expertise and experience include operating two of the most advanced fusion machines of today and will be invaluable as we scale up in partnership towards a low carbon, secure energy future.”

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