UK government allocates £410M to STEP prototype power plant programme

The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero confirmed a £410 million allocation to the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme through 2029, the largest single-government commitment to a national fusion pilot plant to date.

The funding underwrites detailed engineering design through 2028 and partial site preparation at the Nottinghamshire location currently shortlisted. A final siting decision is expected on June 13.

UKAEA chief executive Tim Bestwick called the allocation “the first irreversible step from a paper concept to a built asset,” though he cautioned that full construction commitments remain contingent on industry cost-share negotiations and on the outcome of the EU Fusion Act drafting process.