Tokamak Energy: ST40 + ST80-HTS Development Milestone Tracker
| Milestone | Target Date | Status | Machine + Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST40 first plasma | 2018 | Complete | First commercial spherical tokamak with HTS magnets | |
| ST40 100M C plasma temperature | Mar 2022 | Achieved (Mar 2022) | Marquee scientific milestone; published Nuclear Fusion journal | |
| ST40 sustained plasma + stability validation | 2022-2024 | Complete | Continued ST40 operations through 2024 | |
| ST80-HTS site preparation (Milton Park UK) | 2024-Q1 | Complete | Pre-construction site activities + facility build-out | |
| ST80-HTS magnet manufacturing | 2024-2026 | In progress | REBCO-based HTS coil set; analogous to CFS SPARC magnets | |
| ST80-HTS construction completion | Target 2026-Q4 to 2027-Q1 | On schedule per current Tokamak Energy statements | Next-generation device demonstrating sustained-operation capability | |
| ST80-HTS first plasma | Target 2027 | On schedule per current roadmap | Milestone for commercial-feasibility validation | |
| Tata Steel India PPA partnership (announced; unverified) | Announced 2024 | Flagged as unverified in sector chart nu-fusion-ppa-pipeline | Commercial structure not yet binding | |
| ST-E1 pilot plant design freeze | Target 2030-2032 | Subject to ST80-HTS success | Significantly slipped from original target | |
| ST-E1 commercial operation (originally 2030 target) | Now 2035-2040 stated | Major schedule slip vs original; consistent with broader fusion industry slip patterns | Adjusted from original 2030 target by ~7 years | |
| Editorial. Why this matters | Strategic context | Tokamak Energy is the UK-led spherical tokamak + HTS magnet developer + a structural alternative to CFS in the HTS-tokamak race. The original 2030 commercial target has slipped to 2035-2040 (~7 year slip), one of the largest in the fusion industry. Marquee question: does ST80-HTS validate sustained-operation + does the UK STEP program reinforce or complete with Tokamak Energy's commercial roadmap through the 2030s-2040s? |
Updated at 2025-Q3
