We’re proud to share that UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd (UKIFS), the organisation leading delivery of the UK Government’s STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme, has published its first Annual Report and Accounts. This marks a year of major milestones and sets out how operations we will be scaled up to deliver the world’s first prototype fusion power plant at West Burton, Nottinghamshire.
The organisation was formed in November 2024 and we’re driving forward the UK’s ambition to become a global leader in clean energy through fusion; a safe, low-carbon and virtually limitless energy source.
The STEP programme will demonstrate net energy from fusion and create a new industrial sector, delivering thousands of high-quality jobs and long-term economic benefits. But our ambition for success started locally more than three years ago when West Burton was selected as the host location for STEP Fusion.
We’ve established UKIFS as the dedicated organisation to deliver STEP Fusion. We’ve completed the design concept phase and secured Government backing has been secured for the next phase of the programme taking us from design concept to whole plant delivery.
The year has been packed with innovation and key breakthrough moments including:
- Technology breakthroughs, including validation of the Super-X Divertor on MAST-U (this is the exhaust system, unique to our tokamak prototype), fusion grade steel and our pioneering work in magnets and plasma confinement.
- Digital design integration through a new Product Lifecycle Management system.
- West Burton site progress: geotechnical studies, biodiversity strategy, and master planning.
- Supply chain engagement: over 500 suppliers involved, 83% UK-based.
- Regional impact: STEP positioned as the anchor project for the Trent Clean Energy Supercluster.
We’ve now entered Tranche 2a, the next four-year phase of the STEP programme. This is where the real scale-up begins. Our ambition is clear: to embed major industry partners into the programme, mature the whole plant design, demonstrate critical technologies, and prepare for planning consent at West Burton.
This tranche brings new challenges. We need to integrate public and private sector expertise into a single delivery team, manage complexity at pace, and maintain confidence in design and technology as we move from concept to engineering. We’re also focused on building the supply chain and securing the skills needed for this pioneering project. It’s a bold step, but it’s essential to keep the UK at the forefront of global fusion development.
Delivering STEP is about more than building a prototype plant – it’s about creating a platform for economic growth. We know this can only happen through strong partnerships across the three Combined Authority regions of East Midlands, Greater Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire. Together, we can unlock the skills, infrastructure and investment needed to make fusion a reality.
STEP is the anchor project in the Trent Clean Energy Supercluster, a vision that harnesses the potential of former coal sites along the River Trent to create a hub for clean energy innovation. By leading this transformation at West Burton, we’re not only delivering fusion – we’re helping to power a new era of opportunity for communities and industry across the region, and ensuring the UK is the global leader in fusion.
Professor David Gann CBE, Chair of UKIFS, said:
“I’m inspired by what we’ve achieved together in such a short time. UKIFS has a truly transformational purpose: to lead and integrate the capability and know-how to deliver the commercial fusion energy plants of the future. Building on a fantastic first year, we now accelerate into the next tranche of the STEP programme, shifting gears as we integrate industry partners. The road ahead is steep, but I’m excited by what lies ahead.”
Paul Methven CB, Chief Executive Officer of UKIFS, said:
“Launching UKIFS was a pivotal moment for the STEP programme and for the UK’s clean energy future. We’ve moved from concept to delivery, establishing the foundations for success and securing approval for the next four years of work.
“Now we scale up, tackle and solve big challenges head-on. Integrating industry partners, maturing complex designs, and demonstrating critical technologies at pace will test us, but it’s exactly what’s needed to prove fusion’s potential and create a pathway to commercial viability.”
