Longlist of locations for the UK’s first experimental nuclear fusion plant revealed

18 Jun

The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has revealed its longlist for locations vying to host the development of UK’s first prototype nuclear fusion power plant.

Fusion, the process which generates the sun’s energy, is seen as a potential source of almost limitless clean energy but is currently only used in small scale experiments within research laboratories. It also comes without the danger of explosions.

The successful site will, it is envisaged, create thousands of highly skilled jobs during the construction and operation of the plant, whilst attracting investment that will enable the development of a new UK science and technology centre of excellence.

Many of the longlisted sites have adjacent power station operations, bringing mutual dependencies if a prototype fusion plant were to be developed at the location.

The sites (with nominating body) by UK nation are:

Scotland

Dounreay - (Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership)
East Airdrie - (Fusion Forward (East Airdrie) Consortium )
Poneil - (Fusion Forward (Poneil) Consortium)
Ardeer - (Fusion Forward (Ardeer) Consortium)
Chapelcross - (South of Scotland Enterprise)

England

Moorside - (Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, in partnership with Copeland Borough Council)
Bay Fusion (Heysham) - (Collaboration between industry, Lancaster City Council, Lancashire County Council and Lancaster University)
Goole - (East Riding of Yorkshire Council)
West Burton - (Nottinghamshire County Council)
Ratcliffe on Soar - (Nottinghamshire County Council)
Severn Edge (Oldbury/Berkeley) - (Western Gateway)
Bridgwater Bay - (Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership)
Bradwell(Essex) - (Belport Ltd)

Wales

Pembroke - (Pembrokeshire County Council)
Aberthaw - (Vale of Glamorgan Council)

The UKAEA said that acceptance of the sites on its longlist did not indicate that they were "preferred or desired" or that it believed they were "in all cases, possible" and stressed that the inclusion of sites simply meant that procedural entry criteria had been met.

It said a shortlisting process would take place in the autumn with a final site decision by the Secretary of State for Business and Industry would be taken by the end of next year.

The UKAEA hopes that concept designs for the successful site will be completed in 2024, with a view to targeting first operation in the early 2040s.

The European Union, Russia, China and India are also funding separate research programmes to develop commercial prototype reactors capable of harnessing nuclear fusion.

Photo by Daoudi Aissa on Unsplash