Top universities back plan to bring fusion research to the South West
A campaign to bring the UK’s flagship fusion energy research project to the South West has received a boost, as four of the UK’s top universities announced their support for the project.
The GW4 Alliance, a partnership between the universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter, are backing the Western Gateway’s bid to bring the UK’s first prototype fusion plant to sites in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire.
The plant forms part of the UK Government’s STEP programme, which aims to prove the commercial viability of fusion which has been described as having the potential to become the “ultimate low carbon energy” source, recreating the reaction that takes place within the sun.
A letter of support for the campaign has been signed by the G4 Alliance, stating that situating the UK’s STEP programme at Severn Edge would place it at the “heart of an academic cluster with a unique breadth of skills and research capacity”, significantly increasing “the chances of successfully delivering STEP”.
The UK Government has stated that fusion energy “could be the ultimate clean power solution”, representing a low carbon, safe, continuous and effectively unlimited source of energy.
In early March 2022, an alliance was announced between the GW4 Alliance and the Western Gateway to “develop research communities at scale which address major global and industrial challenges; from net zero, climate change and sustainability to antimicrobial resistance.”
Dr Jo Jenkinson MBE, Director of the GW4 Alliance, said: “Alternative energy sources are urgently needed to move us away from our reliance on fossil fuels. This proposal offers an unprecedented opportunity to engage with a wealth of energy research expertise, world class facilities and cutting-edge equipment across the four GW4 universities. Combined, we can play a key role in driving green and economic regional growth in the area, which is why we offer our full support to the Severn Edge STEP Fusion bid.”
The Western Gateway partnership campaign was recently announced as being in the top five sites in the running to host STEP. Sites in Cumbria, North Ayrshire, East Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire are also under consideration. The “Severn Edge” bid, as the Western Gateway’s campaign is called, has received support from businesses, political leaders and the community.
Katherine Bennett CBE, Chair of the Western Gateway Partnership, said: “Our bid to bring the UK’s STEP programme to the Western Gateway area offers access to the right skills and supply chain to ensure the UK is world-leading in developing this fuel which could prove vital in our efforts to tackling climate change.
“Not only this, but our site in Severn Edge is also unique in meaning the programme would stand to benefit two countries across the union offering opportunities to level up communities in Wales and England at risk of being left behind.”
Learn more about the Severn Edge bid at https://western-gateway.co.uk/uks-most-research-intensive-universities-back-plans-bring-fusion-severn-edge
Read the UK Government’s fusion strategy policy paper at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/towards-fusion-energy-the-uk-fusion-strategy
Photo credit: EUROfusion
