'Game Changing' nuclear fusion power station to create up to 10,000 jobs

West Burton Power station in Nottinghamshire has been chosen as the UK's first nuclear fusion site.

The former coal-fired station, near Retford, was chosen as the site for the multi-billion-pound nuclear fusion project.

Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg made the announement on Monday, October 3.

Its selection has been hailed as "game-changing" by Nottinghamshire County Council leader Ben Bradley. He said the multi-billion-pound project would give the county the opportunity to lead the world.

Limitless

Fusion is a potential source of almost limitless clean energy but is currently only carried out in experiments. It is believed the site, owned by EDF energy, will become one of the world's first to harness its energy.

The reactor, known as the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP), would not be operational until around 2040. Construction work on the prototype would be expected to start in the early 2030s.

In addition, the project is expected to create up to 10,000 jobs.

The government has pledged more than £220m for the STEP programme, led by the UKAEA.

Shortlist

The government shortlisted five sites originally, which did not include the West Burton Plant.

Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg announced the decision in a speech at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.

"Over the decades we have established ourselves as pioneers in fusion science and as a country our capabilities to surmount these obstacles is unparalleled, and I am delighted to make an announcement of a vital step in that mission," he said.

"The plant will be the first of its kind, built by 2040 and capable of putting energy on the grid, and in doing so will prove the commercial viability of fusion energy to the world."

Fusion

Fusion - the process going on inside the sun - creates energy by forcing atoms together.

It is the opposite of standard nuclear reactors which rely on fission, breaking atoms apart.

As a consequence, fusion is viewed as safe and clean but has so far proved difficult to harness.

Mr Bradley, also Conservative MP for Mansfield said: "It's game-changing and quite poetic in some ways. North Nottinghamshire and the coal industry used to power the country and keep the lights on and now we're going to do that in a future-facing carbon free way, and all the skills and investment opportunities that come along with that."

He said the project would bring a variety of jobs to both Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, which borders the site. "There will be lots of roles and opportunities in construction and advanced manufacturing, nuclear science and engineering, as well as for local businesses involved in those kinds of supply chains," continued Mr Bradley.

Game Changer

Brendan Clarke-Smith, Conservative MP for Bassetlaw - the constituency where the power station is based - called the news a "real game-changer".

"We're talking billions in investment, we're talking about something that is really globally significant coming to north Nottinghamshire, and what that will do for jobs, investment, really it blows everything else out of the water," he told the BBC.

Matt Sykes, managing director of EDF's Generation business, said: "We are absolutely delighted that the UKAEA has selected the West Burton site in Nottinghamshire to host the UK's first fusion reactor.

"The area has been associated with energy generation for over 60 years. Developing such an exciting new project continues this tradition and has the potential to transform both the region and the UK's long-term energy supply."

Universities and local leaders hailed the news of the plant coming to Nottinghamshire.

Welcome

"We welcome today's announcement of the selection of West Burton as home for the UK's first STEP plant," said Martin Freer, director of the Birmingham Energy Institute and the Energy Research Accelerator, which backed the region's bid. "The site is part of 'Megawatt Valley' and has been crucial to the UK's power generation industry for decades."

Sir John Peace, chairman of the Midlands Engine partnership, which also supported West Burton's application, said the project was an "unrivalled opportunity" to generate high quality jobs, build a first-class supply chain, and strengthen the regional skills base in an area which has long suffered from underinvestment.

"The site stands to play a crucial role in boosting local and regional economic activity, job creation and productivity," Peace said. "The project is more than a power station - it will require an ecosystem of innovation and development and will become a global focus for fusion power.

Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said:

“Over the decades we have established ourselves as pioneers in fusion science and as a country our capabilities to surmount these obstacles is unparalleled, and I am delighted to make an announcement of a vital step in that mission.

"The plant will be the first of its kind, built by 2040 and capable of putting energy on the grid, and in doing so will prove the commercial viability of fusion energy to the world.”