A UK-US industry consortium has been launched to develop Britain’s first private-sector-led fusion power plant.
The UK Infinity Fusion Consortium consists of US-based fusion energy firm Type One Energy, UK-based fusion firm Tokamak Energy and global infrastructure and engineering firm AECOM.
These three firms are already collaborating on Type One Energy’s 400 MWe Infinity Two stellarator-type fusion pilot plant in the US, which is targeted for commercial operation in 2034.
The aim of the UK-based project – UK Infinity Two – is to use Type One Energy’s stellarator fusion machines, which, unlike tokamaks, use powerful superconducting magnets to efficiently control the superheated plasma, producing vast amounts of energy cleanly and safely. Tokamak Energy will supply the high-temperature superconducting magnet technology for the project.
Fusion is a potential source of almost limitless clean energy, seen as vital for energy security and the climate crisis. However, fusion is difficult to realise...