The possibility that Nottinghamshire could be home to one of the world's first commercial fusion energy plants has been greeted with excitement and approval by county councillors.
It follows a recent Government announcement that Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station is one of five sites across the country shortlisted - and competing to be chosen - for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority’s fusion project
Fusion is a potentially world-changing energy source that could help sustain the low carbon economies of the future. It is an attempt to replicate the processes of the sun on Earth, alongside intermittent renewables such as solar power and wind generated energy and battery storage.
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Councillor Keith Girling (Newark), chair of the council's economic development and asset management committee, said it was "exciting to have got as far as we have".
He added: "There is a touch of reality behind this. We are competing at a very, very high level here."
Councillor Steve Carr (Bramcote and Beeston North) said: "People need to have their minds put at rest that we are not having a nuclear power station. This is something that is quite different."
Several councillors confessed to knowing very little about fusion energy and asked to be briefed on the subject to allow them to make sensible decisions, which was agreed.
Councillors voted to set aside a funding requirement of up to £100,000 from the major programmes delivery work budget to further the necessary work to support the selection process.
The plant would support thousands of highly skilled jobs and stimulate the creation of a thriving fusion industry in the UK.
A final decision on the plant’s location will be made by the Secretary of State for business, energy and industrial strategy around the end of 2022.
Ratcliffe-on-Soar is up against:
- Ardeer (North Ayrshire)
- Goole (East Riding of Yorkshire)
- Moorside (Cumbria)
- Severn Edge (South Gloucestershire & Gloucestershire)
Fifteen sites were long-listed following an open call for sites between December 2020 and March 2021. West Burton power station in Bassetlaw is the only plant on the reserve list. The first plant is likely to be operational in the 2040s.
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