Giant 12-tonne box lowered into place for fusion upgrade
What was announced
12-tonne ‘double beam box’ vessel will double MAST Upgrade’s heating power, allowing scientists to investigate plasma conditions needed for future power plants.
Key points, in the publisher's words
- Engineers at the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) have achieved a technological milestone, having manoeuvred a massive 12-tonne component into position for the UK’s flagship fusion machine, MAST Upgrade , at UKAEA’s Culham Campus.
- The double beam box features a double-decker layout designed to house two neutral beam injectors (NBIs). A neutral beam injector plays a vital role in fusion research by firing high-energy neutral atoms into the plasma, raising its temperature to more than 30 million degrees Celsius.
- By adding two more injectors to MAST Upgrade’s existing setup, the new double beam box will double the machine’s neutral beam heating power from 4.4 megawatts (MW) to 8.8 MW.
Figures in this announcement
Each line is quoted from the original. Figures are as the publisher stated them on the day.
- “A neutral beam injector plays a vital role in fusion research by firing high-energy neutral atoms into the plasma, raising its temperature to more than 30 million degrees Celsius.”
- “The hotter plasma conditions – expected to double from 30 million to 60 million degrees Celsius – will enable researchers to investigate the technologies and physics needed for future fusion power plants, including the UK’s prototype fusion power plant, STEP.”
Who and where
UK bodies of power
- UK Atomic Energy Authority (executive non-departmental public body) · more news
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (UK government department) · more news
Where this sits in the 10 levels of power
Topics, as GOV.UK files them: Research and development.
Receipt
- Original: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/giant-12-tonne-box-lowered-into-place-for-fusion-upgrade
- Published 2026-11-03 09:24:39 UTC
- Read by this site 2026-11-03 09:30:03 UTC from GOV.UK
- Saved copy: receipt 7226, with its SHA-256 fingerprint
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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