en.Wedoany.com Reported - Oxford Sigma, in collaboration with Lockwood Group's Lockwood Cryogenics, is producing a prototype of the Small Scale Model Coil (SSMC) for the UK's STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) project. The coil utilizes high-temperature superconducting (HTS) materials, with final delivery expected later this year. The SSMC has been designated as the first technical milestone for the STEP program in 2026 in the UK's recently released Fusion Strategy.

Developed by UK Fusion Energy Ltd (UKFE) and manufactured by Oxford Sigma and Lockwood Cryogenics, the coil is used for critical testing of the magnet technology required for the STEP project, verifying the magnet's performance, thermal behavior, and structural integrity under simulated fusion operating conditions to reduce risks when scaling up to a full tokamak system.

Thomas Davies, co-founder and CEO of Oxford Sigma, stated that through close collaboration with Lockwood, this sub-scale model coil demonstrates how UK industry can combine materials expertise, manufacturing capabilities, and system understanding to deliver critical hardware for STEP and the UK Fusion Strategy.

Lockwood Cryogenics stated that through this collaboration, it has applied years of cryogenic composite engineering experience to the STEP project, overcoming complex manufacturing and integration challenges. Bennet Jose, SSMC lead, noted that Oxford Sigma and its subcontractor Lockwood have made significant progress in advancing the UK Fusion Strategy milestones, and Lockwood's manufacturing capabilities in cryogenic composite systems are crucial for addressing complex challenges.

STEP is the UK's flagship fusion project, aiming to develop a prototype fusion power plant, combining government and industry expertise to provide clean energy. Oxford Sigma is an internationally recognized company in fusion materials and technology, while Lockwood Cryogenics specializes in high-performance cryogenic composite solutions.

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