Nottinghamshire: Leading the Clean Energy Revolution

Nottinghamshire is leading the way in clean, green energy. West Burton has been selected as the site for the STEP programme. Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) is a pioneering initiative set to establish the world’s first prototype fusion energy plant at the former West Burton coal power station in Nottinghamshire by 2040. 

Nottinghamshire is aiming to become a major hub for renewable and green energy industries, with the West Burton site in Bassetlaw at its heart. Fusion energy is widely regarded as the "holy grail" of clean power, and the UK government has invested £410 million in 2025-26 into developing this near-limitless, safe, and low-carbon energy source.  

A recent economic impact assessment by Amion Consulting estimates that the STEP programme will generate thousands of high-skilled jobs and inject billions of pounds into the UK economy, with Nottinghamshire at the core of this transformation. 

Nottinghamshire commitment to innovation and sustainability is exemplified by the selection of West Burton as the site for the STEP fusion plant. Formerly home to a coal power station, the site is now primed for reinvention, leveraging existing infrastructure and skilled labour from previous energy industries. 

The project has received strong political and financial backing, with the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) committing up to £3 million to advance the Trent Clean Energy Supercluster. The Trent Supercluster is a regional scale vision centring on the economic potential from the emerging proposals for the development of three former coal-fired power stations located alongside the River Trent: West Burton, High Marnham and Cottam, all in Bassetlaw. 

Nottinghamshire County Council, alongside key stakeholders, has been instrumental in securing and promoting the programme, ensuring that necessary infrastructure and workforce development plans are in place to maximise investment returns. 

The opening of the Fusion Energy Café in Worksop, a collaboration between Bassetlaw District Council and the UK’s Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), demonstrates the region’s commitment to community engagement and education in clean energy.  

Find out more about STEP Fusion and West Burton at Nottingham at UKREiiF.