UK Unveils National Fusion Energy Strategy with £1.3 Billion Commitment

On April 14, 2026, the UK government unveiled its National Fusion Energy Strategy, backed by £1.3 billion in government investment, at Fusion Fest 2026 in London. The strategy charts a path from laboratory to commercial grid power centered on the STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme at West Burton A, Nottinghamshire, targeting operations in 2040 and approximately 100 MWe net output. Key partnerships announced include: the ILIOS Consortium as STEP Construction Partner (£200 million contract); Tokamak Energy for high-temperature superconducting magnet technology; and Dassault Systèmes for digital systems management. The strategy is part of the broader £2.5 billion UK fusion investment committed for 2025–2030. UK Energy Security Secretary stated the strategy leverages over 70 years of UK fusion research expertise and positions Britain as a global leader in the emerging commercial fusion market. The funding also covers UKAEA operations, the Fusion Futures skills pipeline, and JET decommissioning research at Culham.