AECOM has been selected as a design and technical services partner in the ILIOS consortium, which has been appointed by UK Fusion Energy as the Construction Partner for the first three‑year, £200 million tranche of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) program.
The contract will see AECOM deliver design and technical services for the construction of a world‑leading prototype fusion power plant at West Burton in Nottinghamshire, a former coal‑fired power station that closed in 2023. The STEP program, sponsored by the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and led by UK Fusion Energy, a subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, aims to deliver a commercially viable fusion plant by 2040, with construction slated to begin in 2030.
The ILIOS consortium, led by the Kier Nuvia joint venture, also includes Nuvia, Turner & Townsend, and AL_A. AECOM’s role focuses on engineering design, construction management, and technical oversight, positioning the firm at the forefront of a transformative energy project that could generate up to £10 billion in future opportunities across the broader program.
Richard Whitehead, AECOM’s chief executive for its Europe and India region, said, "We are proud to be part of this collaborative consortium and client team, helping to deliver this transformational program that will bring the UK's prototype fusion power plant to life. This project plays an important role in supporting a just energy transition, creating jobs and generating lasting socioeconomic benefits for local communities during its delivery and throughout its operational life."
Frank Sweet, chief executive of AECOM’s global Environment business, added, "Fusion technology has the potential to deliver clean, affordable energy to communities around the world, helping to build a more resilient global energy supply. This award builds on our global experience in this emerging sector, which includes our partnership with Type One Energy to provide design engineering services for its innovative stellarator fusion power plant in the US. We look forward to working with our partners on this flagship program to help bring safe, sustainable and affordable energy to the UK market."
The £200 million contract represents a significant addition to AECOM’s project pipeline and underscores the company’s growing role in emerging technology sectors. It also signals the UK government’s continued investment in fusion, which announced £2.5 billion in funding in June 2025 to accelerate the STEP program.
The contract’s successful award demonstrates AECOM’s ability to secure large, complex projects beyond traditional infrastructure, reinforcing its strategic focus on high‑growth, high‑impact engineering services.
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