We’re proud to announce that Research Computing Services (RCS) will play a key role in delivering the UK’s first AI supercomputer dedicated to fusion energy research, backed by £45M of government investment.
The system, Sunrise, will support the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s work at Culham and accelerate progress towards commercial fusion power.
For RCS, this project represents the next step in the evolution of research infrastructure. Modern scientific discovery increasingly relies on the convergence of high-performance computing, AI, and large-scale data platforms.
Fusion science is one of the most demanding examples of this challenge, requiring massive computational capability to model plasma behaviour, optimise reactor designs, and analyse complex experimental data.
By enabling AI-driven simulations and advanced modelling at unprecedented scale, Sunrise will help researchers move faster from theory to insight—and ultimately towards viable fusion energy.
This project also highlights the growing role of research computing services as critical national infrastructure, supporting the UK’s ambitions in AI, advanced science, and clean energy.
The new supercomputer will see AMD, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Dell Technologies, Intel, UK Atomic Energy Authority, University of Cambridge and WEKA working together.
Under the leadership of Director Paul Calleja, we’re excited to contribute our expertise in HPC and AI infrastructure to help power the next generation of scientific discovery.
More to come as the project progresses.
👉 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/45m-for-uks-first-ai-supercomputer-to-accelerate-fusion-energy
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