Since Brexit, the UK no longer has access to ITER, the world’s largest nuclear fusion experiment, through the European Union and the UK government’s has decided to decline an invitation to rejoin the ITER nuclear fusion experiment. Instead, the UK plans to focus on its own fusion research efforts, both public and private, rather than rejoining the international collaboration behind ITER.
ITER, located in France, is the world’s largest fusion experiment and involves significant international collaboration. However, since Brexit, the UK has lost access to ITER through the EU and has chosen not to rejoin the project. Instead, the UK aims to invest in private sector fusion research, believing it to be a more efficient and cost-effective path to commercial fusion reactors.
The UK government’s decision has sparked discussion and debate within the scientific community, with some advocating for continued collaboration with ITER and others supporting the UK’s focus on its own fusion initiatives. Additionally, the UK is developing plans for the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP), a fusion power station project that aims to achieve net energy gain by 2040.