UK-US Fusion Strike Partnership to Accelerate Clean Energy

The UK and US are set to sign two new agreements aimed at accelerating the development of commercial fusion energy, bringing together expertise in artificial intelligence, advanced computing and fusion research.

The agreements will be signed at the Global Fusion Summit in London on Monday 14 September and are expected to help bring fusion power closer to reality while supporting thousands of jobs in both countries.

The first agreement will launch a new supercomputing partnership between the UK Atomic Energy Authority and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. The partnership will combine world-leading expertise in AI, advanced computing and fusion to accelerate the development of commercial fusion energy.

The summit will also see the UK and US sign a Joint Statement committing to closer cooperation on regulating fusion energy. The move is intended to help attract investment and support the growth of the emerging fusion 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. The technology could also create thousands of skilled jobs, support British businesses and unlock 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 partnership would also create opportunities for British businesses and researchers. “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.”

The new agreements build on the UK Government’s record £2.5bn investment in fusion energy and the wider UK-US “golden age” nuclear deal. The Government expects the UK fusion sector to deliver more than 10,000 jobs by 2030 as investment in the technology grows.

The supercomputing partnership will bring together national laboratory expertise in AI, advanced computing and fusion, with the aim of using those capabilities to accelerate research and development. The agreements also come as further investment is announced in Britain’s fusion industry.

The University of Birmingham, Electric Power Research Institute and industry partners have secured a £2.63m collaboration on fusion materials. The project is intended to strengthen UK industrial capability while supporting international cooperation in one of the world’s most promising emerging technologies. Japan’s largest fusion company, Kyoto Fusioneering, will also invest up to £3m in the UK through Project ALBION. The investment will support 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 country’s offer to companies and investors and preparing to capture opportunities in a future global fusion market. The Government estimates that the global fusion market could eventually be worth between £3tn and £12tn. The prospectus is intended to help turn Britain’s world-leading fusion research into a new clean energy industry by attracting companies to invest, build and create skilled jobs in the UK.

The UK Government hopes that closer co-operation with the US, combined with investment from international partners, will strengthen Britain’s position in the global race to develop commercial fusion. The latest agreements will bring together expertise in fusion, artificial intelligence and advanced computing while creating closer cooperation on regulation. As countries work to develop commercially viable fusion power, the UK and US partnership is designed to accelerate progress towards a new source of clean energy while supporting investment, innovation and thousands of skilled jobs.