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Government backs innovation and growth with plan to develop
National Policy Statement to unblock fusion projects
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forms part of golden age of nuclear plans through the
government's clean energy superpower mission
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UK will become the first country in the world to develop
fusion-specific planning rules – helping support thousands of
skilled jobs as part of the Plan for Change
New clean energy jobs and growth for British businesses are set
to be unlocked as the government confirms the UK will be the
first country in the world to develop fusion-specific planning
rules.
The plans will see fusion introduced into the Nationally
Significant Infrastructure Project regime, putting fusion energy
projects on the same footing as other clean energy technologies
such as solar, onshore wind and nuclear.
This will drive growth and unlock benefits for places such as
Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire and South Yorkshire where the fusion
industry is already supporting thousands of jobs – revitalising
industrial heartlands with the clean energy of the future.
Currently, fusion projects must submit an application to the
local authority with no set timelines for approval and no
guidance on which sites are appropriate – hindering the
technology's development in the UK.
The introduction of a National Policy Statement will provide
clarity to developers and streamline the planning process for
fusion, giving applicants clearer guidance on where and how
quickly projects can be developed. This will give industry
certainty, break down regulatory barriers and get projects built
quicker to cement the UK's position at the forefront of the
global race for fusion.
The Spending Review also delivered a commitment to invest over
£2.5 billion in fusion research and development. This includes
progressing with the STEP programme
(Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) which aims to develop
and build a world-leading fusion power plant by 2040 in
Nottinghamshire, creating thousands of new jobs with the
potential to unlock limitless clean power.
A thriving fusion industry in the UK will support the growth of
other technologies, including superconductors, robotics and
advanced materials, which in turn will provide highly-skilled
jobs for British scientists, engineers and construction workers
as part of the Plan for Change.
The government's clean energy mission is the only route to energy
security, lower bills and good jobs for the country, and by
setting out clearer planning rules for investors, the UK will
maintain its optimum position for fusion industry investment.
Energy Secretary said:
The future of fusion energy starts now. We are backing the
builders not the blockers - paving the way for the UK to become a
clean energy superpower and ensuring that limitless fusion energy
plays a key role in our future clean energy mix.
We are ensuring the clean energy of the future gets built in
Britain, supporting the creation of highly skilled jobs and
driving growth into our industrial heartlands as part of our Plan
for Change.
This clarity for investors follows a major backing of £61.9
billion for clean homegrown power in the Spending Review, in
which a golden age of nuclear was confirmed with the selection of
Rolls-Royce SMR as the preferred bidder
to build the UK's first small modular reactors and £14.2 billion
investment to build Sizewell C.
Developing the fusion NPS will also help fusion
energy projects move faster along the process from identifying
sites to the start of construction.
This follows the government's £20 million investment into the
‘Starmaker One' British fusion investment fund which is expected
to unlock £100 million of private investment in the UK - driving
economic growth.
Tim Bestwick, CEO, UK Atomic Energy Authority
(UKAEA),
said:
The inclusion of fusion energy in the Nationally Significant
Infrastructure Project regime is a clear indication of the
government's support for fusion.
Fusion promises to be a safe, sustainable part of the world's
future energy supply and the UK has a huge opportunity to become
a global hub of fusion and related technology.
Fusion-specific planning rules will help provide certainty about
investing in UK fusion developments, and strengthen the UK's
position as a leader in the quest to commercialise fusion energy.
Notes to editors
The government plans to consult on a detailed National Policy
Statement for fusion energy by March 2026.
Consultation response on Scope
of Fusion Energy National Policy Statement
