West Burton Converts to Fusion

EDF's West Burton A, located in Nottinghamshire, will be home to the UK's first prototype fusion power plant.

Share:

EDF’s West Burton A, located in Nottinghamshire, will be home to the UK’s first prototype fusion power plant.

Announcement of a reconversion

West Burton, on the statement of the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, begins its final winter. The decision of London announced, in early October, follows a decision to close the plant. Indeed, the British authorities wish to supply the United Kingdom with electricity as soon as possible.

Shortly after the announcement, the UK Atomic Energy Agency (UKAEA) organized an event at the site. The UKAEA gave more details on the fusion technology as well as the prototype reactor built on site. On this occasion, the organizer unveiled an artist’s impression to present the future site.

A project of local importance

Andy Powell, EDF’s West Burton plant manager, comments on the announcement:

“Our team on site, and across EDF Generation, have worked tirelessly to get this project right, which we could not have done without our colleagues in the local community, industry, education and local, parish and county councils. Moving from fossil to fusion technology is an exciting prospect that is directly linked to the company’s goal of helping Britain achieve net zero. This project will also secure jobs in the local area for decades to come. Our commitment to a just transition for coal-related workforces and communities has come to fruition and I look forward to seeing it all come to fruition.”

It will be April 2023 before the site is decommissioned. Once dismantled, the West Burton site will begin its conversion.

From then on, the UKAEA will pursue its goal of merger. This step will stimulate investment and job creation in the region. Finally, West Burton will contribute to the UK’s net zero targets.

US President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act dramatically changes energy investment rules, imposing restrictions on renewables while favouring hydrocarbons, according to a recent report by consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie.
On July 8, 2025, the Senate validated the Gremillet bill, aimed at structuring France's energy transition with clear objectives for nuclear power, renewable energies, and energy renovation.
Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Peru significantly increase renewable electricity production, reaching nearly 70% of the regional electricity mix, according to a recent Wood Mackenzie study on Latin America's energy sector.
The Canadian government announces an investment of more than $40mn to fund 13 energy projects led by Indigenous communities across the country, aiming to improve energy efficiency and increase local renewable energy use.
The German Ministry of Economy plans to significantly expand aid aimed at reducing industrial electricity costs, increasing eligible companies from 350 to 2,200, at an estimated cost of €4bn ($4.7bn).
The Republican budget bill passed by the U.S. Senate accelerates the phase-out of tax credits for renewable energies, favoring fossil fuels and raising economic concerns among solar and wind industry professionals.
Rapid growth in solar and wind capacities will lead to a significant rise in electricity curtailment in Brazil, as existing transmission infrastructure remains inadequate to handle this massive influx of energy, according to a recent study by consulting firm Wood Mackenzie.
In April 2025, fossil fuels represented 49.5% of South Korea's electricity mix, dropping below the symbolic threshold of 50% for the first time, primarily due to a historic decline in coal-generated electricity production.
The US Senate Finance Committee modifies the '45Z' tax credit to standardize the tax treatment of renewable fuels, thereby encouraging advanced biofuel production starting October 2025.
According to the 2025 report on global energy access, despite notable progress in renewable energy, insufficient targeted financing continues to hinder electricity and clean cooking access, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
While advanced economies maintain global energy leadership, China and the United States have significantly progressed in the security and sustainability of their energy systems, according to the World Economic Forum's annual report.
On the sidelines of the US–Africa summit in Luanda, Algiers and Luanda consolidate their energy collaboration to better exploit their oil, gas, and mining potential, targeting a common strategy in regional and international markets.
The UK's Climate Change Committee is urging the government to quickly reduce electricity costs to facilitate the adoption of heat pumps and electric vehicles, judged too slow to achieve the set climate targets.
The European Commission will extend until the end of 2030 an expanded state-aid framework, allowing capitals to fund low-carbon technologies and nuclear power to preserve competitiveness against China and the United States.
Japan's grid operator forecasts an energy shortfall of up to 89 GW by 2050 due to rising demand from semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence technologies.
Energy-intensive European industries will be eligible for temporary state aid to mitigate high electricity prices, according to a new regulatory framework proposed by the European Commission under the "Clean Industrial Deal."
Mauritius seeks international investors to swiftly build a floating power plant of around 100 MW, aiming to secure the national energy supply by January 2026 and address current production shortfalls.
Madrid announces immediate energy storage measures while Lisbon secures its electrical grid, responding to the historic outage that affected the entire Iberian Peninsula in late April.
Indonesia has unveiled its new national energy plan, projecting an increase of 69.5 GW in electricity capacity over ten years, largely funded by independent producers, to address rapidly rising domestic demand.
French Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher condemns the parliamentary moratorium on new renewable energy installations, warning of the potential loss of 150,000 industrial jobs and increased energy dependence on foreign countries.