A nuclear fusion firm backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is to build a fusion demonstration plant (FDP) in the UK, at the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) Culham Campus.
Vancouver-based General Fusion will enter into a long-term lease with UKAEA following construction of a new facility at Culham to host the FDP.
The FDP, whose development is expected to cost around £290m, will demonstrate General Fusion’s proprietary Magnetized Target Fusion technology, which it said would pave the way for the company’s subsequent commercial pilot plant.
The Culham Campus, owned by the UKAEA, was selected because it is the home of the UK’s national fusion research programme.
Construction of the facility is expected to begin in 2022, with operations beginning approximately three years later.
Christofer Mowry, CEO, General Fusion said: “Coming to Culham gives us the opportunity to benefit from UKAEA’s expertise. By locating at this campus, General Fusion expands our market presence beyond North America into Europe, broadening our global network of government, institutional, and industrial partners. This is incredibly exciting news for not only General Fusion, but also the global effort to develop practical fusion energy.”
Amanda Solloway, science minister, said: “This new plant by General Fusion is a huge boost for our plans to develop a fusion industry in the UK, and I’m thrilled that Culham will be home to such a cutting-edge and potentially transformative project. Fusion energy has great potential as a source of limitless, low-carbon energy, and today’s announcement is a clear vote of confidence in the region and the UK’s status as a global science superpower.”
