Gleeds have been commissioned via Perfect Circle to deliver procurement, commercial, and cost management services to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) STEP fusion programme
International property and construction consultancy Gleeds have been commissioned to the UKAEA STEP fusion programme.
The Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production, or STEP, programme will deliver a prototype fusion power plant at West Burton power station site in Nottinghamshire and will demonstrate that fusion energy can be used to deliver net electricity to the grid, paving the way for future commercial energy plants to be commissioned and constructed.
Gleeds will supply procurement services during planning and design of the development
Perfect Circle has been appointed to support STEP with the delivery of the STEP fusion programme, which sets out to explore the options, challenges, and solutions for accelerating fusion delivery. They will challenge this by bringing on board partners who will engineer and construct the prototype fusion energy plant, capable of producing net electricity.
Gleeds will initially be responsible for providing comprehensive procurement services to support the selection and on-boarding of STEP’s whole plant partners through a complex procurement process.
Perfect Circle and Gleeds’ work on the project will be supported and accelerated through the SCAPE Consultancy framework, which helps to drive collaboration, efficiency, time and cost-savings.
The STEP fusion programme works towards achieving net zero by 2050
Andy Ellis, global head of energy at Gleeds said, “Gleeds is delighted to support the UKAEA STEP programme in delivering its prototype fusion energy plant. This is an incredibly exciting project; not only does it demonstrate viable net energy production, but it also represents an important opportunity for the UK to maintain its role as world leader in fusion technology.
“Fusion will play a hugely important role within the UK clean energy transition as we seek clean, sustainable, low-cost energy sources to replace fossil fuels, and has the potential to generate almost limitless clean energy for future generations. I’m pleased that Gleeds’ extensive expertise in the energy sector has secured us a place on the team to support the procurement of future partners.”
Mark Robinson, group chief executive at SCAPE said, “We are proud to be collaborating with Perfect Circle and Gleeds on this ground-breaking project, helping to accelerate the scheme forward. As we move closer to the government’s net zero by 2050 target, projects like these are significant in demonstrating how clean power production can be delivered effectively and sustainably to support many future generations to come.”
