Tokamak Energy has been confirmed as the Magnet Systems Partner for the UK’s STEP Fusion programme. UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) has awarded a £70m ($94.5m) contract covering the period to March 2029 after Tokamak Energy was identified as the leading UK-based manufacturing expert with the specialist capabilities to deliver the work.
Tokamak Energy is a world leader in high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet systems, demonstrating magnetic field strengths and system level performance that support the UK’s ambition to lead in next generation fusion magnet technology.
Under the contract, Tokamak Energy will act as systems partner delivering eight work packages for magnets, working closely with UKFE’s integrated programme team across key areas including magnets, tokamak systems and plasma integration. Delivery will be led through TE Magnetics, Tokamak Energy’s high temperature superconducting (HTS) technologies division, which brings dedicated design, manufacturing and test capability for advanced HTS magnet systems.
Tokamak Energy and UKFE bring together decades of developed expertise in high field magnet systems and spherical tokamak operations. They form a combined capability to deliver STEP Fusion at pace, accelerate learning cycles and help reduce risk in the early cycle of the wider STEP programme. The STEP programme has recently moved from concept into delivery, following completion of its design concept phase and Government approval to progress towards whole plant development in West Burton, Nottinghamshire.
STEP was announced by the UK Government in 2019. The programme focuses on the spherical tokamak shape for its high-performance plasma properties, which Tokamak Energy pioneered with compact HTS magnets, making it a critical private partner in the UK’s long-term fusion strategy.
Tokamak Energy is the UK’s only manufacturer with this specialist HTS and high field expertise, and this contract secures essential domestic capability. The contract also provides continued use of the company’s ST40, a compact, high field spherical tokamak that recently delivered record levels of plasma current and energy performance.
Under the proposed contract, UKFE will leverage Tokamak Energy’s magnet and plasma infrastructure to support rapid engineering iteration. ST40 and associated HTS magnet platforms allow direct testing of magnetic configuration, coil forces, plasma stability, and quench behaviour under realistic conditions, accelerating validation cycles ahead of STEP’s later design phases.
Tokamak Energy’s Demo4 HTS magnet system demonstrated world first performance for a full tokamak configured HTS system. Demo4 achieved 11.8 Tesla at cryogenic temperatures with seven million ampere turns, successfully reproducing fusion relevant magnetic environments at system level – an important milestone for future power plant scale magnets.
“HTS magnets are a transformative technology essential for delivering energy-producing fusion devices like STEP and unlocking new levels of performance in other sectors,” said Tokamak Energy CEO Warrick Matthews. “Our expertise and experience include operating two of the most advanced fusion machines of today and will be invaluable as we scale up in partnership towards a low carbon, secure energy future.”
Dan Bishop, Chief Commercial Officer at UKFE, said: “This partnership is about delivering together. Tokamak Energy brings the complementary skills, facilities and experience to move at pace. Our mission to deliver the STEP programme objectives is enhanced by this partnership.”
Tokamak Energy’s 2025 acquisition of Leicester-based Ridgway Machines accelerates its ability to deliver high-quality HTS products at scale and provides end-to-end capability. Ridgway Machines brings decades of experience in manufacturing cable insulation and winding machinery across multiple industries. It is the leading provider of bespoke equipment for superconducting magnets and cable production.
