UK & US strengthen joint commitment to fusion energy

The UK and US have signed two new agreements to combine expertise in AI, computing and fusion, while also agreeing to cooperate on the regulation of fusion energy.

The two agreements were signed during the Global Fusion Summit and are designed to bring fusion power closer to reality, with the potential to deliver over 10,000 UK jobs in the sector by 2030. The first agreement will launch a new supercomputing partnership between the UK Atomic Energy Authority and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, combining world-leading expertise in AI, computing and fusion to accelerate the development of commercial fusion. The second contains a Joint Statement between the UK and US committing to closer cooperation on regulating fusion energy, helping to attract investment and support growth of the sector. 

Fusion combines hydrogen isotopes to release vast amounts of energy and has the potential to provide a secure source of clean energy, without producing carbon emissions during operation, all while creating thousands of skilled jobs and unlocking significant economic opportunities. The announcement highlights how the sector is increasingly shifting from laboratory research towards commercial deployment, with governments and private industry now focusing on regulation, investment and supply chains, alongside scientific development.

Minister for Energy, Michael Shanks, said: “Fusion has the potential to provide virtually limitless clean energy while supporting more than 10,000 jobs across the UK by 2030, attracting investment and creating major opportunities for British businesses. By strengthening our partnership with the US we’re accelerating the race to commercial fusion, turning cutting-edge research into economic growth and cementing Britain’s position as a world leader in fusion energy.”[i]

Fusion is a notable feature in the UK’s plans for a clean energy transition, with the UK government announcing in June 2025 a record investment in the technology of over £2.5 billion over 5 years. As of March this year, the UK became the first country to establish a dedicated regulatory framework for fusion energy and has since published a draft Fusion National Policy Statement to support the future deployment of fusion power plants.

Anglo-US consortium’s bid to develop UK’s first commercial fusion power plant

This is not the first fusion-related collaboration between the two nations. Earlier this year an Anglo-US consortium launched with the intention of developing the UK’s first commercial fusion power plant. Formed by Type One Energy, Tokamak Energy, and AECOM, the UK Infinity Fusion Consortium is developing a project that is commercially credible, deployable using existing enabling technologies, and capable of attracting private capital[ii].

At its heart, the UK Infinity Fusion Consortium combines Type One Energy’s 400MWe Infinity Two stellarator fusion power plant design with AECOM’s engineering capabilities and Tokamak Energy’s HTS magnet technology and manufacturing expertise within the UK. The Consortium is set to use this expertise to develop a UK Infinity Two fusion power plant project that will include participation by the broader UK fusion value chain spanning construction, finance, offtake and other supply chain partners.

At the time the project was announced in May, Troy Rudd, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AECOM said: “Fusion represents one of the most important long-term energy solutions, offering a clean, safe and reliable source of power for future generations.”[iii]

Chris Mowry, Chief Executive Officer, Type One Energy, added: “Fusion needs to be delivered, not just developed. This Consortium brings together the core industrial capabilities in the UK and US required to deploy real-world fusion power plant projects that are commercially viable. Our initiative is fully aligned with UK and US ambitions to be leaders in commercial fusion deployment.”[iv]

References

[i] UK and US fusion strike partnership to accelerate clean energy - GOV.UK

[ii] UK Infinity Fusion Consortium Announced - Type One Energy

[iii] Ibid

[iv] Ibid

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