The ambitious Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme aims to generate electricity for the National Grid in the 2040s.
Professor Chris Waldon is announced as STEP Chief Engineer. He was formerly STEP Delivery Director and is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Chris has over 30 years’ experience spanning the nuclear, pharmaceutical, chemical, refining and power generation sectors. He joined UKAEA in 2003 and became the founder of the Central Engineering Department and Chief Engineer. He will be accountable for all prototype powerplant design decisions.
Debbie Kempton joins as STEP Director of Engineering Programme. She is responsible for the overall engineering programme in addition to developing links with industry to support STEP’s concept design. She previously worked at BAE Systems as Group Engineering Director.
Debbie is a Chartered Engineer and Certified Programme Manager. She has 30 years’ experience in aerospace engineering, applied research, technology demonstration and major programme delivery in the US and UK.
Sounak (Sho) Dutta joins as STEP Director of Supply Chain and Commercial. He brings over 20 years’ experience in commercial, procurement and supply chain roles. These include in the aerospace, consulting, utilities and business service sectors. He joins after 8 years at Babcock International Group building and leading procurement and supply chain teams in the civil and naval nuclear businesses.
Sho will have responsibility for sourcing STEP construction and engineering Whole Plant Partners within an overall collaborative team model, and for sourcing and integration of STEP System Partners as the programme develops.
Dr James R. Cowan joins as STEP Director of Programme Development. He is responsible for Programme and Project Management across the whole programme, development of the future home of STEP at West Burton, regulatory engagement and development, and transition to a new operating model.
James is a Chartered Project Professional and Chartered Engineer. He has 30 years’ experience across high risk major programmes. These include submarine design and build, manufacturing facilities and establishment and implementation of multi-partner collaborations within the UK Ministry of Defence.
Paul Methven, UKAEA’s Director of STEP, said:
I welcome the breadth of experience that Chris, Debbie, James and Sho bring to our programme, as we strive to deliver something that has never been attempted before – the design, construction, and operation of a prototype fusion energy powerplant, and, through that endeavour, stimulating a new supply chain.
The delivery of STEP will transfer to UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd (UKIFS) in 2024, a subsidiary of UKAEA. Earlier this month, Professor David Gann became the inaugural Chair of UKIFS. The search for its first Chief Executive Officer will commence in the coming weeks.
UKAEA is STEP’s fusion partner with tenders for construction and engineering partners (Whole Plant Partners) expected to be released in August 2023.