The bid to develop and deploy a new generation of nuclear fusion reactors is an “international endeavour” and the UK wants to find a way to collaborate more closely with Europe despite its recent decision not to participate in the bloc’s nuclear research alliance Euratom, nuclear minister Andrew Bowie said.

Speaking at the International Atomic Energy Agency Fusion Energy Conference in London this week, Bowie said the UK “absolutely recognises” that collaboration is needed and it is clear to the UK government that “we are not going to do this alone”.

Bowie said the UK wants to “get fusion to the grid” by 2040 and the UK has a golden opportunity to be at the cutting-edge of fusion.