UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS), soon to be known as UK Fusion Energy, will appoint ILIOS as the construction partner for the STEP Fusion programme. The contract, valued at £200m ($266.5m) million, is a major milestone in transforming the West Burton site into the UK’s world-leading prototype fusion energy plant. ILIOS is a consortium led by a joint venture between Kier and Nuvia.
The ILIOS consortium is a strategic partnership of global infrastructure and engineering leaders formed specifically to deliver the first phase of the UK’s STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) fusion programme.
The consortium is led by a joint venture between UK-based Kier Infrastructure and France-based Nuvia (the nuclear specialist subsidiary of Vinci). Each member brings a specific set of capabilities to the 4.5-year contract.
- Kier provides expertise in major UK transport and energy infrastructure delivery.
- Nuvia contributes decades of safety-critical nuclear engineering and high-hazard project experience.
- US engineering consultancy AECOM acts as a strategic partner providing design and technical services for complex scientific and energy facilities.
- UK-based AL_A (Amanda Levete Architects) focuses on the architectural design for cutting-edge science and innovation environments.
- UK-based Turner & Townsend manages the programme’s cost, risk, and complex infrastructure portfolios.
- Specialist Partners: The team also includes Bam Nuttall for civil engineering and Optima Systems Consultancy for systems engineering and integration.
Paul Methven, UKIFS CEO and Responsible Officer for STEP Fusion, said the appointment of ILIOS marks a significant milestone for the STEP programme. “Their combined experience in major infrastructure, safety-critical engineering and complex site transformation gives us real confidence as we move from planning into delivery. This partnership will help ensure that West Burton becomes a leading centre of fusion innovation and a cornerstone of the UK’s future clean energy landscape.”
Lord Vallance, Minister for Science, Innovation, Research & Nuclear said: “Although the STEP programme is unique, the ILIOS consortium brings extensive experience from major national infrastructure, high hazard civil engineering, nuclear sector delivery, complex scientific and energy facilities, large programme and cost management, and world-class design for innovation environments giving STEP confidence that the team can meet the technical and delivery demands of the project.”
ILIOS Programme Director Simon Matthews said this is a significant milestone in the UK’s transition to clean energy. “Following an extensive and collaborative procurement stage, we are proud to be selected as construction partner for the STEP programme and to be part of this innovative and transformative chapter in energy supply.”
As the appointed Construction Partner, ILIOS will be responsible for every aspect of construction at the West Burton site, including:
- acting as principal design and build contractor;
- delivering all construction work under STEP leadership;
- managing all early enabling works;
- coordinating design integration, civil engineering, buildings and site infrastructure;
- overseeing supply chains, logistics and sequencing;
- meeting all safety, sustainability and quality requirements; and
- providing continuity and capability across a build programme leading to planned operation in 2040.
Further reading: UK fusion strategy revealed
