A nuclear fusion power station, which will possibly be the first of its kind in the world, is set to be built in West Burton, north Nottinghamshire.
The Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has picked the site between Retford and Gainsborough to host the 海角视频 Atomic Energy Authority (海角视频AEA)鈥檚 pioneering prototype fusion power station.
Backers hope it will help lead the 海角视频鈥檚 carbon neutral targets. The Atomic Energy Authority has been looking for potential suitable locations for the past couple of years after the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) announced a 拢220 million fund to help find a home for the 海角视频鈥檚 future Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme, due for completion in 2040.
Fusion is based on the same physical reactions that power the sun and stars, and could be a source of abundant renewable fuel if made available on a commercial basis.
The Midlands Engine said the announcement was a huge boost to the Midlands鈥 drive to attract inward investment 鈥 with low-carbon energy generation seen as a route to tackle climate and energy crises, and create vital high-paid, high-skilled jobs across the Midlands.
The West Burton site has been used for coal and gas powered electricity generation for decades, and the decision follows Nottinghamshire County Council鈥檚 Fossil2Fusion campaign, supported by the Midlands Engine partnership and Energy Research Accelerator.
West Burton was one of 15 sites which entered bids in early 2021 to host project. It was chosen from an eventual shortlist of five after more than a year of detailed technical and socio-economic assessment.
If successful, the prototype plant could pave the way to commercial fusion plants producing sustainable, low carbon energy for generations to come.
Midlands Engine chairman Sir John Peace said: 鈥淚n an area which has long suffered from underinvestment, the site stands to play a crucial role in boosting local and regional economic activity, job creation and productivity.
鈥淭he project is more than a power station 鈥 it will require an ecosystem of innovation and development and will become a global focus for fusion power.
鈥淭his is an unrivalled opportunity to support our levelling up agenda by generating high quality jobs, building a first-class supply chain and further strengthening our regional skills base.
鈥淲e look forward to working with the 海角视频AEA to make the project a success, both in solving our energy challenges, and driving green growth across the Midlands and beyond.鈥
Professor Martin Freer, director of the Energy Research Accelerator, said the site was part of what he called 鈥楳egawatt Valley鈥 which had been crucial to the 海角视频鈥檚 power generation industry for decades.
He said: 鈥淔usion has the potential to be transformative for the way we produce energy here in the 海角视频.
鈥淚t could provide an almost limitless supply of safe, clean electricity and help with the toughest decarbonisation challenges by using heat to manufacture hydrogen and synthetic clean fuels 鈥 other areas where our region and ERA have expertise.
鈥淲e look forward to building on our work with the 海角视频AEA, bringing the region鈥檚 first-class skills and innovation capabilities to bear on this exciting project.鈥
The successful bid follows the Midland鈥檚 Engine鈥檚 partner-led Ten-Point-Plan for Green Growth, supported by ERA, which aims to deliver a 36 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions from 2020 levels and generate a further 拢24.2 billion GVA for the region鈥檚 economy by 2041.
