Ardeer makes final five shortlist for UK fusion energy plant
The facility would create thousands of jobs
Ardeer in North Ayrshire is the only place in Scotland shortlisted as a potential location for the UK’s prototype fusion energy plant.
Fifteen sites were identified last year, and they have now been whittled down to five following an initial phase of assessments. The remaining locations are:
Ardeer (North Ayrshire)
Goole (East Riding of Yorkshire)
Moorside (Cumbria)
Ratcliffe-on-Soar (Nottinghamshire)
Severn Edge (South Gloucestershire & Gloucestershire)
The facility will be known as the STEP plant, which stands for Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production.
The UK Government says Fusion has the potential to provide a near-limitless source of low carbon energy. It copies the processes that power the sun and stars where atoms are fused to release energy, creating nearly four million times more energy for every kilogram of fuel than burning coal, oil or gas.
The plant also promises to create thousands of new jobs.
UK could become a 'global leader'
George Freeman, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation said, “Fusion energy has the potential to be a truly revolutionary and inexhaustible energy source that can help us reduce our dependence on unreliable fossil fuels and tackle climate change.
“By building the foundations to unlock the power of fusion energy, including the location of the UK’s first prototype fusion power plant, we are positioning the UK as a global leader in this safe and sustainable power source.
Paul Methven, STEP Programme Director at UKAEA, said, “The shortlisting of sites is a significant step for the programme as it helps bring this challenging, long-term endeavour to life in the here and now. It also increases our focus as we push on with design and delivery of what we hope is the world’s first fusion power plant prototype.
“Through the next phase of assessment, we look forward to working with the shortlisted sites and local communities to gain a more in-depth understanding of the socio-economic, commercial and technical conditions associated with each site, before we make our final recommendations to the Secretary of State in 2022.”
It is hoped the plant will be up and running in the early 2040s.