UK government signs 30 million deal to build the worlds first prototype
fusion power plant by 2040

Date:
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Dassault Systmes to lead UK prototype fusion power plant digital twin
software with 30 million deal, supporting engineering and collaboration.

Dassault Systmes has teamed up with UK
Fusion Energy in a new 30 million deal to support the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme, supporting the UKs effort to build the worlds first prototype fusion power plant by 2040.

Under the new contract, Dassault with provide the project with its 3DEXPERIENCE platform to support digital twins, crucial for developing next-generation power plants and broader fusion research. The software will also be used for engineers, designers, scientists, manufacturers,
construction partners and more to collaborate with the same data and context, ultimately creating a hub for the project. Dassault described the tool as a standardized and connected engineering environment. The
multimillion-pound software package reduces the need for separate CAD files, simulation models, engineering databases and more, improving the projects overall value.

It will also be used for engineers to model, test and optimize systems using digital twins a digital mockup of the power plant in a virtual environment.

[STEPs Plant Information Management System], powered by the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, will play a critical role in enabling fast, efficient and rigorous engineering delivery while creating the blueprint for future fusion power plants, UK Fusion Energy Engineering Program Director Debbie Kempton wrote.

This deployment will strengthen engineering continuity, accelerate innovation and ensure that plant information, engineering decisions and system designs remain fully connected across the entire lifecycle of the prototype power plant, Dassault Systmes EuroNorth MD John Turnbull added.

STEP, which was awarded a 2.5 billion of additional government investment in June 2025, is set to be built on the site of a former coal power station in Nottinghamshire. Fusion power plant inches toward reality The announcement also marks the next step in this drawn-out program, moving it beyond scientific research into pre-production.

Already this year, Tokamak Energy has signed a 70 million contract to develop high-temperature, superconducting magnets that will fuel the fusion power plant.

The government anticipates the project could create up to 10,000 jobs across construction, engineering and supply chains, including the impact the new 30 million contract will have on employment at Dassault Systmes. Its unclear how long the deal will last, and whether Dassault will need to re-tender in order to welcome competition.

Final designs should be complete with construction expected to start around 2032, with around eight years of construction, installation and other commissioning to take the site live.

As for Dassault itself, the 30 million contract represents a major contract for the company, which scored another major deal with the Volkswagen Group in early 2025 to support thousands of engineers with virtual twins throughout vehicle development across brands like VW, Audi and Porsche.

Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/uk-government-signs-gbp30m-deal-to-build-the-wor lds-first-prototype-fusion-power-plant-by-2040

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