The UK government has launched a nuclear fusion strategy that it says makes the country the first to establish a clear national path towards commercial fusion energy in a bid to contribute to energy security.

The plan involves creating a market framework intended to attract private investment into fusion electricity.

A central project is the Step prototype fusion power plant, planned for a former coal facility at West Burton in Nottinghamshire, northern England.

The government said UK Industrial Fusion Solutions will appoint a consortium called Ilios as construction partner for the Step programme under a £200m (€231m, $266m) contract that is a “major milestone” in transforming the West Burton site into the UK’s world-leading prototype fusion energy plant.