Tokamak Energy Partners with DOE and DESNZ for $52M Fusion Facility Upgrade

Tokamak Energy has announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the UK Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). Together, the three parties will sponsor a $52 million upgrade to Tokamak Energy’s ST40 spherical tokamak, aiming to advance the science and technology needed to build a future fusion pilot plant.

A Global Vision for Fusion Energy

Fusion, the process powering the sun and stars, has the potential to deliver abundant, safe, and carbon-free energy here on Earth. The partnership builds on the DOE and DESNZ fusion strategies, announced in December 2023, which align the U.S. Bold Decadal Vision for Commercial Fusion Energy with the UK’s Fusion Strategy.

The collaboration emphasizes shared access to cutting-edge facilities like the ST40, enabling researchers from universities, national laboratories, and institutes in both nations to contribute to fusion development.

Dr. Geraldine Richmond, DOE Under Secretary for Science and Innovation, highlighted the program’s collaborative strength:

“This represents a huge leverage opportunity for advancing fusion science and technology. Each partner stands to gain significantly more than the funds committed.”

Kerry McCarthy, Minister for Climate in DESNZ, added:

“Fusion has the potential to be a clean and sustainable energy source, transforming how we power our country and the world. This partnership accelerates progress in this field and showcases the exceptional expertise in the UK and U.S.”

Tokamak Energy’s Role

Tokamak Energy is the only private company with over a decade of experience designing, building, and operating spherical tokamaks. It is also one of eight awardees of the DOE’s Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program, a public-private initiative to advance fusion technology toward industry-led pilot plants.

Warrick Matthews, CEO of Tokamak Energy, expressed optimism about the ST40 upgrade:

“Our high-field spherical tokamak ST40 has achieved impressive results, and we’re thrilled to commence its new mission. This partnership will advance fusion science and technology in pursuit of a common goal: delivering fusion power.”

The ST40 has already demonstrated significant progress, achieving fusion-relevant temperatures six times hotter than the core of the sun in a previous collaboration with DOE labs like Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

Toward Fusion Technology

The ST40 upgrade will focus on creating fusion conditions with good confinement for long durations—key for sustaining net-energy production. A major enhancement will involve coating the device’s inner wall with lithium, a material known to improve plasma confinement and energy retention.

Jean Paul Allain, DOE’s Associate Director for Fusion Energy Sciences, emphasized the importance of collaboration:

“This new capability on the ST40 will allow university and national lab scientists to leverage the device’s advancements. Publicly supported scientists working alongside private facilities drive the breakthroughs necessary for a competitive fusion industry.”

The Path Forward

The $52 million project, evenly funded by the DOE, DESNZ, and Tokamak Energy, is set to begin in 2025. By combining public-sector expertise with private-sector innovation, the partnership aims to achieve breakthroughs that will accelerate the realization of fusion power.

With its high-performance magnets, innovative design, and global partnerships, Tokamak Energy’s ST40 spherical tokamak continues to lead the charge in developing compact and cost-effective fusion solutions, bringing the dream of limitless clean energy closer to reality.