b'Partner News Summer 2020 31CorporateOne small STEP Alongside the technical challenges, its important to build a coalition of support, ensuring stakeholders are confident in the UKAEAs ability to deliver STEP. As the programme moves into the detailed engineering design stage, its likely that it STEP is an ambitious programme, led by the UKAEAwill attract commercial investment and so investor relations will become increasingly (UK Atomic Energy Authority), to design and build theimportant. In addition, the prototype reactor will be built at a UK location yet worlds first compact fusion reactor, delivering netto be determined, bringing significant electricity by 2040. The STEP (Spherical Tokamak forsocietal and economic benefits to the local community. Energy Production) prototype will pave the way for The programme will attract and develop a fleet of commercial fusion reactors to be deployedskilled people from many different around the world. professionsthose with an engineering or scientific background are in particular demand as the project grows and develops. What are the opportunities? In October 2019, the Prime MinisterThere will be many opportunities for announced 222m funding for the firstcompanies across the supply chain as the stage of work, through to March 2024.STEP programme develops and matures. The key deliverables for this period areThe recent UKAEA suppliers event in to: Develop a concept design for theCoventry saw more than 200 people prototype reactor, deliver technicalcome together to learn more about the solutions, grow the skills base andAuthoritys work and the level of interest capability of the supply chain, defineamong delegates was extremely high. the regulatory framework and identifyIts exciting to see a growing and thriving a suitable site. If successful, detailedprivate fusion sector in the UK, with the engineering design will follow, withpotential to make significant contributions construction starting early in the 2030s. to the delivery of successful fusion energy. So why fusion, and why now?So, whats next?Fusion energy is low-carbon and canThe first priority for the STEP programme is play a critical role in the long-term fightto deliver a concept fusion reactor design against climate change, which will needto government by March 2024. The road a combination of technologies andahead promises to provide an exhilarating approaches. Its possible to create a hugeride, offering a once-in-a-generation amount of power from a fusion reactor,opportunity to prove that fusion can be making it suitable for use where therescommercially viablethats a thrilling high levels of energy demand. prospect for everyone associated with the programme.The fight against climate change has already begun with conventionalTo find out about upcoming supply chain renewables taking a key role.However,opportunities on the STEP programme, energy demand will continue to growvisit: gov.uk/government/publications/in the coming decades and so we mustwell exhaust the excess heat, the breedingstep-procurement-opportunities invest now to ensure new carbon-freeand management of tritium, developing technologies, including fusion, are ready inthe right materials for use inside theFor current vacancies at UKAEA, follow time to meet that growth.reactor and ensuring maintenance can beus on LinkedIn: ccfe.ukaea.uk/careers/undertaken remotely. There are alreadyvacancies/ What are the main challenges? a range of facilities and expert teams at There are several key technical challengesUKAEAs Culham site working on theseLearn more about UKAEAs work at: that must be tackled by the STEPchallenges; the team is also developingccfe.ukaea.uk/programme. These include how the plasmarelationships with industry and academic will be maintained within the reactor, howpartners to grow a national capability.'