UK Fusion Energy Ltd has awarded a £70 million contract to Tokamak Energy, appointing the company as systems partner for magnets from March 2026 to March 2029. As part of this role, Tokamak Energy will work directly with UKFE’s integrated programme team on magnet architecture, tokamak systems engineering, and plasma facing integration for the STEP programme.
The STEP programme has recently moved from concept into delivery, following completion of its design concept phase and Government approval to progress towards whole plant development.
Over the last year, STEP has delivered key technical breakthroughs, including validation of the SuperX Divertor on MASTU, development of fusion grade steel, and advances in magnets and plasma confinement. The programme has also introduced digital design integration through a new Product Lifecycle Management system, expanded engagement with more than 500 suppliers of which 83% are UK based, and advanced West Burton site planning, including geotechnical surveys, biodiversity strategy and master planning work.
Tokamak Energy brings a unique combination of operational fusion hardware, magnet manufacturing capability and UK-based high field experimental infrastructure. Its ST40 spherical tokamak, one of the world’s highest field compact tokamaks, recently delivered record plasma performance, reaching 1 mega amp plasma current, significantly increasing stored energy, and achieving one of the highest fusion triple products ever recorded in a privately operated device.
These advances build on high performance campaigns including sustained Hmode operation and lithium assisted plasma scenarios, developed in partnership with UK and US fusion research organisations
In addition, Tokamak Energy’s Demo4 HTS magnet system has demonstrated world first performance for a full tokamak configured high temperature superconducting system. Demo4 achieved 11.8 Tesla at cryogenic temperatures with seven million ampere turns, successfully reproducing fusion relevant magnetic environments at system level – an important milestone for future powerplant scale magnets.
Under the proposed contract, UKFE will leverage Tokamak Energy’s magnet and plasma infrastructure to support rapid engineering iteration. ST40 and associated HTS magnet platforms allow direct testing of magnetic configuration, coil forces, plasma stability, and quench behaviour under realistic conditions, accelerating validation cycles ahead of STEP’s later design phases.
Why this contract matters
- Combines complementary expertise
UKFE leads the delivery of STEP at whole plant scale, while Tokamak Energy brings decades of private sector innovation in high field magnets and spherical tokamaks. Together they create a delivery capability neither could achieve alone, especially at required programme pace. - Provides direct access to operational high field testbeds
ST40 and Demo4 allow live testing of plasma scenarios, magnetic geometries and integrated coil loads which are significantly faster and more informative than simulation only approaches. - Reduces risk in advanced magnet development
Fusion requires exceptionally strong, stable magnetic fields. Early validation of cooling systems, structural integrity, quench behaviour and multi‑coil interactions reduces risk in one of the most challenging areas of STEP’s design. - Accelerates STEP Programme milestones
The partnership enables rapid prototyping, earlier technology verification and a smoother transition from concept into full engineering design. - Strengthens UK sovereign capability
Tokamak Energy is the UK’s only specialist manufacturer of high field HTS magnet technology, securing critical domestic capability and reducing dependence on global supply chains.
Dan Bishop, Chief Commercial Officer at UKFE, said:
“This partnership is about delivering together. Tokamak Energy brings the complementary skills, facilities and experience to move at pace. Our mission to deliver the STEP programme objectives is enhanced by this partnership.”
Warrick Matthews, Tokamak Energy CEO, said:
“Confirming our position in the UK’s world-leading fusion programme is a proud day for Tokamak Energy. HTS magnets are a transformative technology essential for delivering energy-producing fusion devices like STEP and unlocking new levels of performance in other sectors. Our expertise and experience include operating two of the most advanced fusion machines of today and will be invaluable as we scale up in partnership towards a low carbon, secure energy future.”
