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

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

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Dassault Systmes secures 30m deal to support UK fusion energy program 3DEXPERIENCE platform will enable digital twin modelling, testing and more STEP program could create 10k+ jobs including Dassault opportunities 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. Latest Videos From Watch full video here: Dassault Systmes role in digital twins 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. You may like Pulsar Fusion outlines its plans for fusion-powered deep-space propulsion SoftBank offers 75 billion to help build Europes biggest data centre project OpenAI halts 31 billion Stargate UK project over rising energy costs and regulatory deadlock

[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. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get
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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. What to read next BT becomes first UK firm to join Anthropic Project Glasswing Antimatter plans global AI network with 1,000 micro data centers by 2030 The new engineering playbook: how AI design copilots are reshaping product development

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. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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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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