UK Fusion Energy Ltd (UKFE), the organisation formed to deliver the British government’s nuclear fusion power plant pledge, has handed a £30m contract to French software group Dassault Systèmes.
UKFE was created by the government to carry out the UK’s flagship fusion energy programme STEP, which aims to design and build the world’s first prototype fusion power plant by 2040.
Working towards this aim, UKFE has recruited Dassault, which will deploy its digital twin platform to support the engineering teams.
Dassault will provide its 3DEXPERIENCE platform, a digital engineering tool that will allow UKFE to design, develop and operate the eventual power plant. The platform has been integrated into STEP’s Plant Information Management System (PIMS).
“This agreement marks an important milestone in the evolution of the information baseline for the STEP Prototype Fusion Power Plant at West Burton,” said Debbie Kempton, Ddirector of engineering programme at UKFE.
“PIMS, 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.”
“As we advance toward a virtual twin for STEP through the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, UKFE is establishing the digital engineering foundations required to deliver the next generation of fusion power plants,” said John Turnbull from Dassault Systèmes.
“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.
“Together with UKFE, we are building the digital framework needed to transform the UK’s scientific leadership in fusion into an industrial and commercial reality.”
