Finding STEP a Home
We’re on a journey to find a home for STEP somewhere in the UK.
We received a wide range of nominations from across the UK as a result of an open call for sites in early 2021. Following an initial phase of assessment of the longlist of 15 sites, five sites were shortlisted for further evaluation.
Listed alphabetically, these sites are:
The next, and final, phase of assessment will enable us to gain a more in-depth understanding of the socio-economic, commercial and technical conditions associated with each site. This will be concluded in spring 2022, enabling us to make a final recommendation to the Secretary of State at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy who will make a final decision on the successful site around the end of next year.
What will we look for in a site for STEP?
With the plant still in the design phase, it’s not possible to be too precise about the buildings and facilities we’ll need. The STEP design will continue to evolve over the next few years and we want our host community to come with us on that exciting journey.
Once the site is selected we will need to embark on a full consenting and planning process before any site development takes place. During this process we will undertake public consultation, gathering feedback and answering questions from the local community. This will provide residents and stakeholders with opportunities to influence and shape the detail of the site as the design develops.
Fusion Regulation
Fusion is a great technology for the future of both our planet and economy. It has the potential to produce large amounts of energy, powering the low carbon economies of the future.
Currently, there is no established regulatory regime for fusion. A consultation on this was issued by the Government in October, accompanying the first issue of the fusion strategy (Towards Fusion Energy)
STEP will be regulated under the fusion regime that is established in the coming years and will always maintain a safe, sustainable and environmentally responsible approach at its heart.
