UKAEA Facility.

New fusion technology centre brings 60 jobs to Yorkshire

A new fusion technology facility is now open and operating in South Yorkshire hiring 60 “highly skilled” jobs.

The Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham was chosen by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) as the ideal location for the new 25,000 sq ft fusion energy research facility.

The facility received £2.2m investment from the Local Growth Fund (LGF) towards equipment purchase and set-up costs.

Dan Jarvis MBE MP, Mayor of South Yorkshire, said: “We’re delighted to welcome UKAEA to the Advanced Manufacturing Park. This is a hugely significant development, which further enhances South Yorkshire’s expertise on a world scale for the development of innovative technologies for the advancement of materials.”

“This facility has the potential to create many high value jobs in the local supply chain as fusion technology matures, as well as a number of high value jobs in the region in the coming months.”

Damon Johnstone, UKAEA’s head of operations said: “CHIMERA is a unique world-first facility in which we will be able to simulate the extreme conditions found within a fusion power plant, but without any nuclear reactions taking place.

“This will enable a step change in our ability to test components for all UK and international fusion research programmes. It therefore represents a hugely important national capability, enabling industry in the UK and internationally to design, and eventually qualify, components for future commercial fusion power plants.”

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