UK and US Sign Tech Pact to Accelerate Fusion Energy Collaboration
Landmark transatlantic partnership aims to fast-track fusion and nuclear projects while securing clean energy supply chains
The United Kingdom and the United States have formalized an ambitious technology pact that places fusion energy at the forefront of their shared innovation agenda.
Branded the Tech Prosperity Deal, the agreement marks a generational shift in bilateral cooperation, aligning the two nations to accelerate the commercial realization of fusion power—a technology long viewed as the holy grail of clean energy.
At the core of the pact is a joint commitment to achieve commercial fusion power. The two nations will combine public resources, scientific expertise, and industrial capabilities to develop fusion systems capable of delivering abundant, carbon-free electricity. Under this agreement, British and American researchers will collaborate on coordinated experimental programmes that aim to cut the timeline to commercial fusion deployment dramatically.
These programmes will integrate cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create advanced simulation tools, enabling faster design cycles and de-risking large-scale experiments. Shared test facilities will be used to accelerate milestones, while regulators will work to align licensing frameworks for eventual commercial plants.
The partnership also includes plans to co-host a Global Fusion Energy Policy Summit in the United States in 2026, bringing together policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders to harmonize regulatory frameworks, set joint safety standards, and map commercial pathways for deploying fusion power plants.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said, “We’re kickstarting a golden age of nuclear in this country, joining forces with the US to turbocharge new nuclear developments and secure the technologies of the future. Nuclear will power our homes with clean, homegrown energy, and the private sector is building it in Britain, delivering growth and well-paid, skilled jobs for working people.”
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright described it as a framework that will “enhance global energy security, strengthen U.S. energy dominance, and secure nuclear supply chains across the Atlantic.”
Their remarks highlight that fusion is now being treated not as a distant aspiration but as a core pillar of national energy strategies for both countries.
In addition, the collaboration will support energy security by eliminating any remaining dependence on Russian nuclear material by the end of 2028. While this commitment relates to the broader nuclear sector, it illustrates how fusion development is being integrated into a comprehensive strategy to secure resilient energy supply chains and shield both nations from geopolitical risks.
Ongoing UK-US collaboration is already evident, including Google DeepMind’s work with the UK Atomic Energy Authority to advance fusion energy research.
The new pact aims to scale such cross-border R&D by forging further joint research schemes focused on commercializing fusion. These projects are expected to combine AI-driven design tools with advanced materials science and plasma physics expertise, helping to de-risk the large-scale experiments required to achieve breakeven power.
Major Nuclear Build-Out
Alongside fusion, the agreement ushers in what government leaders have called a “golden age of nuclear.” Enabled by the new regulatory framework, several major nuclear projects are moving forward, including:
X-Energy and Centrica – Plans to construct up to 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool, delivering about 6 GW of nuclear capacity and creating as many as 2,500 jobs
Holtec, EDF and Tritax – An £11 billion project to build data centers powered by small modular reactors at the former Cottam coal plant in Nottinghamshire, expected to create thousands of construction and long-term operations roles
Last Energy and DP World – One of the world’s first micro modular nuclear plants to power the expanded London Gateway port
Urenco and Radiant – A £4 million deal to supply advanced HALEU (high-assay low-enriched uranium) fuel to the U.S. market, with Urenco constructing a UK Advanced Fuels Facility
TerraPower and KBR – Evaluating UK sites for deployment of the Natrium advanced reactor, with each plant supporting 1,600 construction jobs and 250 permanent roles while integrating gigawatt-scale energy storage
The UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will fast-track reactor design checks and share site licensing assessments. If a design passes rigorous safety reviews in one country, those assessments can be leveraged by the other, reducing approval timelines for advanced reactors like the Rolls-Royce SMR to about 24 months.
Mike Finnerty, Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector at ONR, said the partnership “clearly reaffirms our shared commitment to effective, safe, and secure nuclear operations.” At the same time, NRC Chairman David Wright described it as “redoubling our joint efforts to advance, enable, and deploy nuclear technologies for the future.”
Industry leaders have also praised the framework. Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgic noted that the agreement “will strengthen the energy security and resilience of both nations, creating thousands of high-skilled jobs, attracting billions of investments and supporting economic growth."
GE Vernova’s Roger Martella said regulatory simplification “will help to reduce costs and speed up the construction of the first wave of SMR plants.”
Strategic Energy Independence
Beyond specific projects, the UK-US pact is positioned as a cornerstone of long-term energy sovereignty. By jointly developing advanced nuclear and fusion systems while cutting dependence on Russian material, the two nations aim to secure clean baseload power insulated from global supply shocks and fossil fuel volatility.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer added that the deal “marks a generational step change in our relationship with the US, shaping the futures of millions of people on both sides of the Atlantic, and delivering growth, security and opportunity up and down the country.”
Simon Bowen, Nuclear Chair of Great British Energy, said the commitment “sends a clear signal—this is a pivotal moment for energy security and clean growth,” while Tom Greatrex of the Nuclear Industry Association described the new projects as “hugely welcome” and evidence of “an industrial revival… creating thousands of high-value jobs, and strengthening the UK’s energy security.”