Miliband targets 'virtually limitless' clean energy with Nottinghamshire fusion plant

The government plans a fusion plant at the former West Burton coal site, with the ILIOS consortium expected to begin construction in 2030 and a build completion targeted for 2040.

Ed Miliband has set out plans for a nuclear fusion plant on the former West Burton coal-fired power station in Nottinghamshire. The government has appointed the ILIOS consortium, led by Kier and Nuvia, to build the new plant. The announcement is part of a wider Fusion Strategy that includes multi‑million pound investments and changes to planning rules. Ministers said recent international energy market turmoil underlined the aim of securing lasting energy supply. Key details: - Site: the former West Burton coal-fired power station in Nottinghamshire. - Builder and timeline: the ILIOS consortium, led by Kier and Nuvia, is expected to start construction in 2030, with the £200m build project scheduled for completion by 2040. - Funding and programs: the government has reported a £2.5bn commitment to fusion, a £45m investment in the Sunrise AI supercomputer, and a £20m cornerstone investment in the Starmaker One fusion fund. - Jobs: the government says the fusion drive will support more than 10,000 jobs by the end of the decade. - Technical note: fusion uses high temperatures and pressures to fuse hydrogen into helium and release energy, but major challenges remain to control the process and reach commercial viability. Summary: The announcement frames the West Burton plant as a central element of a national Fusion Strategy intended to back industry and work towards long-term clean energy supply. Next steps set out in the report include a planned construction start in 2030 and the Sunrise supercomputer aiming to be operational by June; broader commercial viability of fusion remains undetermined at this time.