UK Invests £45M in Fusion-Focused AI Supercomputer
The UK government is funding a 1.4-megawatt supercomputer called Sunrise, designed specifically to accelerate fusion energy research. The £45 million investment, announced through the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, targets operation in June 2026 at the UK Atomic Energy Authority's Culham Campus in Oxfordshire.
Sunrise will deliver up to 6.76 exaflops of AI-accelerated computing power. The system will tackle fusion challenges including plasma turbulence modeling, materials development, and tritium fuel breeding-work that typically requires expensive physical testing.
How Researchers Will Use It
The supercomputer will create digital twins of complex fusion systems, allowing scientists to test and iterate in simulation before committing resources to physical experiments. This approach mirrors methods used in the Apollo programme, according to Rob Akers, UKAEA's Director for Computing Programmes.
Sunrise will support two major UK fusion programmes: LIBRTI, which develops tritium fuel-cycle technologies for future fusion reactors, and STEP Fusion, the government's flagship initiative to demonstrate fusion energy by the 2040s.
The Partnership
AMD, Dell Technologies, Intel, the University of Cambridge, and the data storage company WEKA are collaborating on the system. The supercomputer combines AMD EPYC processors with AMD Instinct GPU acceleration, built on Dell's PowerEdge platform.
The project establishes the first phase of an AI Growth Zone at Culham Campus. Cambridge Research Computing Service will help co-design, deliver, and operate the system.
Broader Impact
Beyond fusion research, Sunrise will strengthen the UK's high-performance computing capabilities and contribute to the government's AI for Science & Research strategy. The investment follows £36 million in government funding directed to Cambridge's supercomputing centre in January 2026.
Lord Vallance, Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear, said the investment secures the UK's energy independence while creating skilled jobs in clean energy sectors.
For researchers working on fusion energy or high-performance computing applications, AI Research Courses can provide foundational knowledge in applying machine learning and AI modeling techniques to complex scientific problems.
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