Government invests £86m in nuclear fusion research

The investment will fund the construction and operation of a national fusion technology platform at Culham, which is expected to open in 2020.

According to the UKAEA, the new facility will support UK industry and help to secure around £1 billion in contracts from the likes of international fusion research experiment ITER and various global fusion projects.

Looking ahead, the facility would also enable UKAEA to develop technology for the first nuclear fusion power plants in the UK, the government body said.

UKAEA chief executive officer Ian Chapman said: “Fusion is entering the delivery era, with an increasing focus on the key technologies that will be needed for the first power stations. The National Fusion Technology Platform will help British industry to maximise growth from opportunities provided by ITER.

"In the longer term it means the UK will be at the forefront of developing fusion and bringing cleaner energy to the world.”

The platform will comprise two research centres and is expected to create around 100 jobs.