Construction is expected to begin this year of General Fusion’s demonstration project at the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA's) Culham Campus after South Oxfordshire District Council Planning Committee granted planning permission.
In October, Canada’s General Fusion and UKAEA initiated projects to advance the commercialisation of magnetised target fusion energy as part of a collaborative agreement. The fusion demonstration, which will be built to 70% scale of a commercial power plant, is expected to be commissioned in 2026 and fully operational by early 2027.
General Fusion will lease the 10,500-square-metre building from UKAEA when construction is complete. UKAEA said the demonstration will create fusion conditions in a power plant-relevant environment, achieving temperatures of over 100 million degrees Celsius. The facility itself will not generate power.
Siting the facility at the UKAEA’s Culham Campus will give General Fusion access to science and engineering capabilities, such as knowledge and experience in designing, constructing and operating the Joint European Torus. The company will also benefit from the UK’s existing fusion energy supply chains.
The building was designed by architects, AL_A, led by Amanda Levete and Ove Arup Engineers. “Receiving planning permission is a huge milestone and testament to the close collaboration between our team, General Fusion, and the UKAEA, said Amanda Levete. “The building will not only be highly efficient but one that also expresses the technological optimism of fusion to solve the energy problems of the world.”
The design is intended to enhance the surrounding biodiversity and will incorporate a mix of strategies that include reusing waste heat, natural ventilation to minimise cooling loads, as well as a large green roof and extensive photovoltaics.
General Fusion CEO Greg Twinney said he expects the project to create 60 long-term jobs at the site and to generate approximately 200 jobs during construction. “The UKAEA welcomes this milestone as it aligns with our strategy to create clusters that accelerate innovation in fusion and related technologies, and support public-private partnerships to thrive,” said UKAEA CEO Professor Sir Ian Chapman. “It also builds upon our heritage of hosting major fusion facilities here at our Culham Campus.”
Image: General Fusion's demonstration project will be built to 70% scale of a commercial power plant at UKAEA’s Culham Campus (courtesy of AL_A)
