UK Government Invests £410M in Nuclear Fusion Energy

The UK government plans to invest £410 million to accelerate commercialization of fusion energy, with a significant portion earmarked for the development of a prototype fusion power plant in Nottinghamshire that is set to be operationally capable by 2040. Further investments will be made at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy in Oxfordshire, which is home to the UK’s pioneering fusion research. This follows the announcement at Autumn Budget 2024 of “significant support in 2025-26 for UK fusion energy research”.

Nuclear fusion, which merges hydrogen atoms to release large amounts of energy, could help replace traditional fossil fuels and limit greenhouse gas production. This investment has the potential to provide the UK with secure, clean, and unlimited energy.

The UK government has shortlisted five firms to undertake the task of repurposing Nottinghamshire’s industrial landscape and build out the necessary skills needed to sustain nuclear advancement. These actions align with broader UK policies focused on infrastructure advancements, AI growth, and clean energy.

This investment presents significant opportunities for U.S. companies with products and technologies in the nuclear fusion supply chain—from superconducting magnets and advanced materials to AI-enabled plasma control and precision engineering. The UK’s commitment to commercial fusion, combined with strong transatlantic R&D partnerships and a shared drive toward clean energy innovation, makes it a strategic market for U.S. firms looking to scale fusion-related technologies.

For more information on how to search for opportunities in the UK to sell goods or services to the public sector, visit:  https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder.

For more information on this process, contact Leah Kollhoff, Commercial Specialist at leah.kollhoff@trade.gov.