Mission Led AI Data Centre and a Strategic Investment Partnership Funder for Future Campus Development

AI Data Centre

Following on from the Government announcement and publication of the supporting AI Opportunities Action Plan on 13th January 2025, Culham Campus was identified as the first AI Growth Zone. AI Growth Zones are designated areas that will rapidly accelerate AI data centre development and the needed infrastructure, ensuring no community is left behind as we harness the benefits of this revolutionary technology. By focusing government support on planning and energy and committing to scaling each zone up to 500MW in collaboration with network operators, these zones will attract significant private investment, create local jobs, and strengthen the UK’s global AI leadership – delivering opportunities for working people across the country.

Culham’s unique existing high-power infrastructure by virtue of connection to the National Grid, land capacity, proximity to London and its DC network infrastructure, proximity of other regeneration projects with commercial tenants, and world-class fusion research capabilities make it the perfect location for the first AI Growth Zone.

To deliver on this ambition, UKAEA intends to release c10 acres of land and its reconfigured power connections. The high voltage infrastructure provides connections to both 132kV and 400kV electricity grids with available spare capacity to initially deliver approximately 100MW of steady state, dual resilient power for the development of a mission-led AI data centre, potentially adjacent to other use cases (either Government led or commercial) – ideally with a focus upon driving near term economic growth and longer-term economic opportunities towards realisation of UK Net Zero. UKAEA expects that a portion of this facility (up to 20MW, or equivalent services) would be available on demand for fusion and broader R&D research.

The land earmarked for the facility also sits inside a secure, patrolled fence and is surrounded by tall, mature trees which will make it invisible to the outside world.

UKAEA would like to gauge industry’s interest in partnering opportunities to deliver the AI capabilities needed for fusion, in the most sustainable manner possible, whilst exploring commercial terms which make this an attractive investment opportunity. This opportunity may be of interest to Data Centre hosting organisations, Cloud Service Providers, industrial HPC / AI users, OEMs within the HPC supply chain and other forms of private investment.

UKAEA is aiming to establish a partnership that recognises the value of the site as ideally suited for an AI data centre, that creates a significant UK AI capability, and that produces mutual commercial benefit for both UKAEA and investing partners.

Strategic Investment Partner

UKAEA is considering a process to secure a long-term investment partner to contract with via a non-corporate Strategic Investment Partnership to fund the development and further expansion of the Culham Campus as an internationally leading fusion and fusion related technology cluster in South Oxfordshire.

It is the current intention that UKAEA shall seek to appoint a long-term investment partner to initially develop a commercial masterplan and delivery strategy for Culham Campus based on UKAEA’s goals and a shared vision between UKAEA and the investment partner. Thereafter the investment partner will be responsible for securing funding to facilitate the delivery of development, redevelopment, refurbishment and repurposing for the growth of the campus in line with the masterplan and delivery strategy on a plot-by-plot basis.

This will also include the branding and international marketing of the campus to attract commercial occupiers in relevant sectors that complement and benefit from the established campus activities. Additional information: This PIN is to establish third party interest in these opportunities and to enable interested parties to gain a further understanding of UKAEA’s future vision at the Culham Campus. UKAEA is offering the opportunity for interested parties to attend an Information Day on Monday 10th March 2025. Registration details can be found in the supporting information.