The group behind a bid to bring a £220m nuclear fusion power plant to the West of England has said it has received an “enthusiastic response” from communities close to its proposed site.
Severn Edge, the base of two, near-adjacent, former nuclear power stations at Oldbury in South Gloucestershire and Berkeley in Gloucestershire, is on a shortlist of five sites being considered for the Government’s Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) project.
The proposed prototype plant, which could be operational by 2040, is part of the UK’s efforts to become the first country to commercialise fusion energy to meet future electricity needs, as well as contribute to meeting net zero carbon emissions targets.
The Western Gateway, a partnership of local authorities, development bodies and landowners in South Wales and the West Country, has said that if secured the plant could bring “billions” of pounds in investment and create more than 30,000 jobs on both sides of the Severn.
A senior team of fusion experts from the UK Atomic Energy Authority has visited the sites of the decommissioned plants, while a public consultation has also been held.
Over a week, nearly 400 people attended drop-in information sessions on the bid at Oldbury-on-Severn, Berkeley and Thornbury, as well as an online forum.
Cllr Toby Savage, vice chair of the Western Gateway Partnership and Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said: “It’s been great to see such a fantastic response from local residents.
“We really value the comments and support we’ve received for our bid to bring the UK’s best hope of developing clean, green fusion energy for the country to our sites in Oldbury and Berkeley.”
Cllr Matthew Riddle, South Gloucestershire Council and Member of Oldbury Parish Council, added that feedback to the bid had been “very positive”, due to the local area’s association with nuclear power.
Construction of the Berkeley Nuclear Power Station began more than 60 years ago, and in 1961 Berkeley Nuclear Laboratories were opened, employing 750 people.
Mr Riddle said: “Three generations have worked on the power stations over time with construction starting in the 1950s.It will be great for skills for our young people and for many it could provide a job for life. My message to government is that we are ready to go.”
Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council and Western Gateway partnership board member, told the UKAEA team visiting the site that nuclear power was part of the county’s “DNA” and “rich history.”
The four other locations shortlisted are Ardeer (North Ayrshire); Goole (East Riding of Yorkshire); Moorside (Cumbria); and Ratcliffe-on-Soar (Nottinghamshire).
UKAEA will make a final recommendation to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy before the successful site is announced around the end of this year.
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