UK and US fusion strike partnership to accelerate clean energy
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UK and US to sign a new agreement on fusion and AI to accelerate
commercial fusion energy rollout and thousands of jobs in both
countries Further transatlantic supercomputing partnership
announced between UK and US national laboratories, combining AI,
advanced computing and fusion expertise to bring the clean
energy of the future closer to reality Summit builds on the
government's record £2.5 billion investment in fusion and the
landmark UK-US golden...Request free
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The UK and US are set to sign two new agreements at the Global Fusion Summit in London on Monday 14 September, helping to bring fusion power closer to reality and deliver over 10,000 UK jobs in the sector by 2030. The first agreement will launch a new supercomputing partnership between the UK Atomic Energy Authority and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, combining world-leading expertise in AI, computing and fusion to accelerate the development of commercial fusion. The summit will also see the UK and US sign a Joint Statement committing to closer cooperation on regulating fusion energy, helping to attract investment and support growth of the sector. Fusion replicates the process that powers the sun, combining hydrogen atoms to release vast amounts of energy. It has the potential to provide a secure source of clean energy for generations to come, without producing carbon emissions during operation, while creating thousands of skilled jobs, backing British businesses and unlocking significant economic opportunities for the UK. Minister for Energy, Michael Shanks, said: Fusion has the potential to provide virtually limitless clean energy while supporting more than 10,000 jobs across the UK by 2030, attracting investment and creating major opportunities for British businesses. By strengthening our partnership with the US we're accelerating the race to commercial fusion, turning cutting-edge research into economic growth and cementing Britain's position as a world leader in fusion energy. FCDO Minister for the Americas, Chris Elmore said: The UK's relationship with the United States supports growth and thousands of jobs at home. By bringing together world-leading expertise in fusion, artificial intelligence and advanced computing, we're helping British businesses and researchers access the investment, knowledge and international partnerships needed to succeed in the industries of the future. On top of the UK-US agreements, The University of Birmingham, Electric Power Research Institute and industry partners have secured a £2.63 million collaboration on fusion materials, strengthening UK industrial capability and supporting international collaboration in one of the world's most promising emerging technologies. Japan's largest fusion company, Kyoto Fusioneering, will also invest up to £3 million in the UK through Project ALBION, supporting the development and testing of materials for the UK government-backed STEP programme, which is designing a prototype fusion power plant. The announcements come as the UK publishes its UK Fusion Investment Prospectus, setting out the UK's offer for companies and investors today and preparing to capture the opportunities in a future global fusion market estimated to be worth between £3 trillion and £12 trillion, establishing the UK as a leading destination for fusion. The prospectus will help turn Britain's world-leading fusion research into a new clean energy industry, attracting companies to invest, build and create skilled jobs in the UK. Notes to Editors In June 2025, the government announced a record investment in fusion energy of over £2.5 billion over 5 years, as part of its SR allocation: Funding breakdown for fusion energy - GOV.UK. The University of Birmingham, EPRI and industry partners have secured a £2.63 million collaboration on fusion materials, through the FURESHMA (Fusion Reactor Shielding Materials) programme. The UK is enabling industry growth by publishing its Regulation Landscape, clarifying the regulations and processes needed to deploy a fusion power plant. Alongside this the Environment Agency and Health & Safety Executive have published an Early Engagement Process to formalise engagement with industry and provide confidence to developers and investors. The UK has signed a Letter of Intent with the State of Tennessee agreeing potential areas of collaboration including R&D, skills and workforce development, regulation, and access to supply chains. The UK published A New Energy Revolution: The UK's Plan for Delivering Fusion Energy in March 2026, setting out its ambition to accelerate the growth of the UK fusion industry and maintain Britain's leading position in the global race for fusion energy. The UK is investing £180 million in the Lithium Breeding Tritium Innovation (LIBRTI) programme, a globally unique facility that will help address one of the key technical challenges facing future fusion power plants. The government is investing £125 million in the AI Growth Zone at Culham, including £45 million for the SUNRISE supercomputer, helping place the UK at the forefront of using AI and advanced computing for fusion research. The UK was the first country to establish a dedicated regulatory framework for fusion energy and has since published a draft Fusion National Policy Statement to support the future deployment of fusion power plants. In March 2026, the UK became the first country to commit to developing a dedicated market framework for fusion energy, aimed at providing certainty for investors and supporting future commercial deployment. The government's STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme aims to deliver a prototype fusion power plant by 2040, transforming the West Burton site in Nottinghamshire into a hub for clean energy, jobs and economic growth.
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