Nottinghamshire's West Burton A power station has won the race to become the UK's first nuclear fusion site. The former coal-fired station, near Retford, was chosen as the site for the multi-billion-pound project, Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg announced on Monday, October 3.
Its selection has been hailed as "game-changing" by Nottinghamshire County Council leader Ben Bradley, who said the multi-billion-pound project would give the county the opportunity to lead the world. The reactor, known as the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP), would not be operational until around 2040, with construction work on the prototype expected to start in the early 2030s.
The project is tipped to generate 10,000 jobs. Nuclear fusion, which is currently only carried out in experiments, is a potential source of near-limitless clean energy. It is believed the West Burton A site, owned by EDF energy, will become one of the world's first power stations to harness its energy.
Read more: Power station location swapped in Nottinghamshire on fusion energy plant shortlist
"It's game-changing and quite poetic in some ways," Mr Bradley, also Conservative MP for Mansfield, told Nottinghamshire Live. "North Nottinghamshire and the coal industry used to power the country and keep the lights on and now we're going to do that in a future-facing carbon free way, and all the skills and investment opportunities that come along with that."
He said the project would bring a variety of jobs to both Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, which borders the site. "There will be lots of roles and opportunities in construction and advanced manufacturing, nuclear science and engineering, as well as for local businesses involved in those kinds of supply chains," continued Mr Bradley.
"They'll be a multi-billion investment coming into our part of the world and the chance to lead the world really. If we get it right and build - as the plan is - this power station that can then be replicated, we can sell that to the world."
West Burton A was chosen after replacing Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station on the five-site shortlist earlier this year. Bassetlaw's Conservative MP Brendan Clarke-Smith, Bassetlaw District Council and West Burton Residents’ Planning Group (WBRPG) expressed their excitement over the move.
Dave Langmead, Sturton Le Steeple resident and WBRPG member, said: "As we move towards a greener future it is exciting to know that our small community will be at the forefront in hosting the development of fusion technology, along with the opportunities for economic development that the project will bring to the area.”
Business leaders, including Sir John Pearce, also welcomed the news. East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles added: "At a time when energy security is at the top of the national agenda, it’s important to see innovative ideas being explored such as nuclear fusion – and to have Nottinghamshire at the forefront of this is very exciting.
“West Burton A, along with Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station at the south of the county, has tremendous potential to lead the way in showcasing how legacy power infrastructure can be repurposed for a net zero future." UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) will be responsible for all aspects of the development, consenting, construction and operation of the facility.
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