West Burton in Nottinghamshire has been selected to host STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production), the UK's prototype fusion energy plant. STEP is run by the UK Atomic Energy Authoriry UKAEA, which is carrying out fusion energy research on behalf of the government. According to UKAEA, STEP will demonstrate the ability to generate net electricity from fusion, determine how the plant will be maintained through Its operational life, and prove the potential for the plant to produce Its own fuel. The new facility in the east midlands is expected to be built by 2040. Commenting on the announcement, Professor Mortin Freer, director of the Bir mingham Energy Institute and the Energy Research Accelerator said: "Fusion has the potential to be transformative for the way we produce energy here in the UK. It 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."
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