Fusion power - the hard work begins
By Ian Mean, Business West Gloucestershire director | 20th October 2021
Gloucestershire may have made it onto the shortlist to be the new home of the UK's fusion plant, harnessing the power of the sun. But now the hard work really does begin.
The team behind the bid will need to persuade the government that its plan for the £220m prototype plant meets all the Levelling Up criteria. In other words, it's down to poIitics - but that has to be accepted.
Gloucestershire is now in the race to build the plant with four other sites-some of those in the North- which might have an advantage in the Levelling Up process because of their geography.
So, the Severn Edge bid from Gloucestershire for the site of the former nuclear power stations at Berkeley and Oldbury must tick all those government boxes.
Having worked with the bid team for the last year, I believe Severn Edge can win.
Here in Gloucestershire we have an amazing science and engineering base with high temperature expertise.
We are one of the leading regions for digital which will be vital for the project.
And our supply chain link with South Wales through the Western Gateway partnership will mean specialist steel being available as will our links with Cornwall for lithium.
In terms of regeneration of the county, the plant would help drive employment for the government's two priority 1 Levelling Up areas- Gloucester and the Forest of Dean, as well as the Stroud area.
Plus, we would be working with our friends of the Midlands Engine in the West Midlands - the powerhouse of manufacturing.
Thousands of highly skilled jobs for the region would be created right across the South West if Severn Edge wins through with a government decision by the end of next year.
A government decision in favour of Severn Edge would open the door to enormous career opportunities for young people studying STEM subjects as they are doing at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College at Berkeley.
Throughout the last year, the district councils here have been hugely supportive as have been the county's MPs.
We now need to step up the campaign and work together to ensure that Severn Edge gets over the finishing line.
The impact on Gloucestershire's economy and regeneration cannot be underestimated plus the plant's contribution to net zero carbon.
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