Energy

Oxfordshire has thriving clusters in energy and energy storage solutions, where multidisciplinary collaboration stimulates innovation.

We have the key ingredients that make up a world-class innovation ecosystem:

• A flourishing environment for innovation and business creation
• A world-leading experts in knowledge and technology development
• A dynamic, agile, and skilled workforce.

Oxfordshire has long been home to some of the most significant developments in energy research.

More than 6,000 people work in Harwell Campus’s vibrant, fast-growing community of research councils, start-ups and multinational organisations. The site hosts over 225 research and technology companies in a wide range of disciplines and internationally-renowned assets.

Harwell’s EnergyTec Cluster has 57 dynamic companies and 1,100 people actively researching electrochemical energy storage, many working collaboratively with the site’s Space and HealthTec Clusters.

The Faraday Institution is a key stakeholder, linking 20 universities and 30 industry partners. Other national assets at Harwell include the Diamond Light Source the Rosalind Franklin Institute, UK Space Agency, European Space Agency and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.

The Science & Technology Facilities Council at Harwell works collaboratively with experts and a range of businesses across a broad range of sectors, enabling them to exploit world-class science facilities such as the Diamond Light Source, to overcome difficult product, manufacturing or process issues. It helps companies to develop new products, accelerate product discovery, and improve processes and products.

Culham Science Centre is home to UKAEA (the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority) and the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, the UK’s national fusion energy laboratory. UKAEA operates the Joint European Torus (JET) – the world’s largest and most powerful tokamak – on behalf of its European partners, and the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST). Oxfordshire is a leading location for fusion energy research and innovation. Find out more about the opportunities to collaborate with key research and innovation companies that can make the technological breakthroughs needed to create a clean, green 21st century.  

Oxfordshire is a leading location for fusion energy research and innovation. Find out more about the opportunities to collaborate with key research and innovation companies that can make the technological breakthroughs needed to create a clean, green 21st century.  

The Materials Research Facility, which enables industrial and academic researchers to analyse the effects of irradiation on materials, is also located at Culham, offering affordable, convenient access for users from fission, fusion and other research programmes – bridging the gap between university and nuclear licensed site laboratories.

The UK government will invest £184m by 2025 in new fusion facilities, infrastructure and apprenticeships at the Culham Science Centre.

Download: 'Oxfordshire For Energy - choosing to invest in the UK's energy development heartland'