About UKAEA Culham Centre for Fusion Energy
The Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE), operated by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), is one of the world’s foremost laboratories for the development of fusion power — the process of fusing atomic nuclei to release vast amounts of clean energy, the same principle that powers the sun.
Located at the Culham Science Centre near Abingdon in Oxfordshire, CCFE has played a central role in international fusion research for decades. It is home to the Joint European Torus (JET), the world’s largest operational fusion experiment, which has set records for plasma performance and energy output. Building on this legacy, CCFE is now leading projects such as the MAST Upgrade — a next-generation device designed to refine the path toward commercial fusion reactors.
The centre is more than just a laboratory; it is a global meeting point for scientists, engineers, and industry partners, all collaborating on the quest to deliver safe, low-carbon, virtually limitless energy. This work has profound implications for tackling climate change and securing future energy supplies.
CCFE also plays a key role in training the next wave of fusion specialists, offering apprenticeships, graduate schemes, and research opportunities. With the UK’s STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme also based here, CCFE stands at the forefront of turning fusion from an experimental dream into a practical reality.
