prestige diesels & sports limited is a uk-based used car sales company located in portsmouth , hampshire , england .

the company was founded in 2011 by scott shilcock and alexis cassey .

they have been quoted in the media several times regarding the volkswagen emissions scandal including the telegraph , bbc one news , daily mail , buzzfeed news , and itv news .

prestige diesels sells various makes and models but specializes in mercedes-benz , bmw , jaguar , volvo , and mini .

prestige diesels

wow . just bought my new car from prestige diesels . what an amazing experience
prestige diesels & sports limited . free business summary taken from official companies house information . free alerts . registered as 07604756
prestige diesels & sports limited is a uk - based used car sales company located in portsmouth , hampshire , england .
the vw revelations could have a long - term impact on the motor industry , according to independent car dealer prestige diesels .
prestige diesels sells various makes and models but specializes in mercedes - benz , bmw , jaguar , volvo , and mini .
partner at prestige diesels . winner of car dealer magazine ' s most influential dealer on twitter 2015 . a twitter addict and general car lover
as reported earlier today by car dealer , independent outfit prestige diesels has gone straight into our top 100 most influential dealers on twitter list at number two .
to arrange picking the car up they offered to deliver the vehicle to us ! would highly recommend prestige diesels for anyone looking to buy a new car .
prestige diesels proudly displays its winner banner on its website so that people checking the company out on the internet can instantly be assured of its high quality of service .
cronica motor . prueba jaguar f - pace 2 . 0 diesel prestige aut . el que faltaba
new jaguar xe 2 . 0d [ 180 ] prestige 4dr diesel saloon for sale | farnell jaguar
alexis and scott , owners of prestige diesels & sports , talk about the first 5 years of prestige diesels , why they have rebranded and what the future holds . - - - - - - - who ? prestige diesels & sports are a multi - award winning used car dealership based on the south coast - specialising in all types of used vehicles sales . - why ? at prestige diesels & sports , we strongly believe in always putting the customer first , ensuring they get only the best service in buying their next car . we also always go the extra mile in preparing our cars , making sure they’re perfectly presented for the next owner to lovingly care for . - when ? we are all laid - back and easy going , so please feel free to pop in for a mooch around our showroom . we even have coffee on the go !
portsmouth - based prestige diesels , run by alexis cassey and scott shilcock , carried home the trophy for used car dealership of the year ( under 50 vehicles ) , sponsored by black horse , at the 2014 event .
last year it was prestige diesels & sports limited that claimed the top spot and , in an impressive display of resilience , the small dealership has again taken home the overall prize , alongside the title of most influential independent dealer 2016 .
unlike many other car dealers we have visited you did not feel under any pressure to buy and we felt they had plenty of time for us . there customer service was fantastic and nothing was too much trouble . we would highly recommend prestige diesels portsmouth
alexis cassey , a partner in the portsmouth - based business , said her business was “steering clear” of vw and audi diesels as a result .
comfortable sport seats are upgraded with leather and heat in prestige trim . ( photo : karen tuggay , canadian auto press )
the portsmouth - based dealership boasted a klout score of 75 , up a point on last year’s score . an impressive margin of three klout points was seen between prestige diesels and runner - up imperial car sales , which climbed four points and one place since the 2015 list .
we found prestige on auto trader . when we arrived we were greeted by scott and josh who were extremely friendly and helpful throughout
campaigners at the pressure group transport & environment said the technology used by vw was employed by other manufacturers , meaning many of the uk’s 11million diesels might have to be recalled .
the xe ' s base 8 . 0 - inch infotainment display gets navigation in prestige trim . ( photo : karen tuggay , canadian auto press )
alexis cassey , a partner in the portsmouth - based independent car dealers prestige diesels , said she was now avoiding vws and audis . she added : ‘we’ve made the decision not to buy any cars from the affected ranges but i can’t believe just volkswagen is involved : if one is at it , they are all at it . ’
volkswagen sells half a million vws , audis and seats annually in the uk , half of them diesels . because the scandal has run since 2009 , 1 . 5million may be affected .
nice details like 18 - inch six - spoke alloys separate the mid - grade prestige from base premier . ( photo : karen tuggay , canadian auto press )
she predicted customer demand for diesels will continue as high mileage drivers need the fuel economy diesel engines give , despite the possibility of the government raising taxes on vehicles if the engines are revealed to be more polluting than first thought .
if you’re looking for a new jaguar xe 2 . 0d [ 180 ] prestige 4dr diesel saloon for sale , you’ve come to the right place . at farnell jaguar we don’t just have the best jaguar xe 2 . 0d [ 180 ] prestige 4dr diesel saloon deals , we also offer friendly advice and help with all your enquiries to ensure your buying experience is a happy experience .
alexis cassey , speaking on behalf of prestige diesels portsmouth , which is an independent garage , said : ‘personally , we think this proposal will lead to an increased number of cars on the roads running on illegal tyres , worn suspension bushes , ball joints , wearing brake pads and other general maintenance issues that car owners overlook . many consumers already forget to do annual servicing on their cars after their manufacturer’s warranty has run out .
however , alexis cassey , a partner at independent dealership prestige diesels , told buzzfeed news that she had seen no cause for concern so far :
i think the press have put it in a way that suggests people won ' t be able to sell their cars . but my partner has been to auctions twice this week and no volkswagens had lost their value – they ' re still going through at the same value .
fitted to the xe prestige ' s lightweight aluminium frame is your preferred engine from a choice of two diesels and one petrol . the combination of a light , rigid and stable platform with a 2 . 0 - litre 163ps turbocharged petrol powertrain results in thrilling acceleration and excellent driver control . the diesel options include jaguar ' s 2 . 0 - litre i4 engine with 163ps or 180ps . a rewarding 75mpg combined is returned by the 163ps diesel when partnered with a six - speed manual gearbox and has low c02 emissions of 99g / km .
here at prestige , we believe in putting the customer first and go the extra mile in preparing our cars . we are all laid - back and easy going so please feel free to pop past for a mooch around our showroom or for a coffee .
the jaguar xe prestige epitomises modern motoring luxury . an elegantly sculpted body conceals a first - class cabin which brings together premium materials and cutting edge equipment . this is all enjoyed even before you pull away , when you do , the saloon ' s appeal is only heightened .
i couldn ' t have asked for a better welcome , tea , coffee , biscuits and given plenty of time to look around the car . prestige cars clearly are driven by a sense of pride and desire to be a little bit different to a lot of car dealers .
all of the same standalone features not already standard with prestige trim can be added for the same price , plus gloss figured ebony veneer ( a dark hardwood ) for $ 400 , a head - up display system for $ 1 , 000 , while the vision pack is also available . new
is how my tester came , a prestige model with no options priced at $ 49 , 500 plus freight and dealer fees , which incidentally is $ 4 , 500 more than $ 45 , 000 base premium trim . both premium and prestige trims can be equipped with more , the former allowing a $ 1 , 500 upgrade from its entry - level 17 - inch alloys to the same 18s found on the prestige model , while the premium can be upgraded with the plenty of exterior colours as well as the no - cost choice of jet black , latte beige , or oyster light grey interior colour schemes . it can also be equipped with the same softer leather steering wheel with or without heat , although the heated steering wheel requires the $ 1 , 000 cold climate pack that ' s surprisingly not standard here in canada due to the additional inclusion of heated front seats , a heated windshield and heated wash jets . being that no jaguar dealer will want to be caught without the cold climate pack we might as well call the xe ' s base
prestige trims can be upgraded with larger machine - finished 19 - inch alloys for $ 2 , 000 , or optionally a set of $ 1 , 000 glossy black 18s that require a $ 500 upgrade to the black design package which also trims out the grille surround , grille insert , front fender
power vents
and side window surrounds with gloss black instead of chrome .
kes a very personal approach ensuring the car is exactly what we wanted and needed . the car we brought was in brand new showroom condition despite being 4 years old . the detail that the prestige team go to to ensure cars of the cleanest and most perfect condition is second to none . would recommend buying a car from scott and alexis in a heart beat ! a truly 5 star experience
prestige trim adds 18 - inch alloys , proximity - sensing keyless entry , metal front treadplates with bold
jaguar
inscriptions , a softer grain leather steering wheel that ' s also heatable , a powered steering column , front seat four - way powered lumbar support , heatable front seats , leather upholstery , the aforementioned navigation and infotainment apps , voice recognition , led mood lighting , and more .
on the inside there are even more first - rate features . the prestige includes ' taurus ' heated leather seats with contrast - coloured stitching plus brushed aluminium veneers . jaguar - branded tread plates welcome you into the cabin , and interior mood lighting sets the tone for every journey . the xe carries five people in comfort with generous amounts of legroom in the back and a 455 - litre boot capacity .
on the positive , you can upgrade your xe prestige with a $ 1 , 000 adaptive dynamics air suspension that continuously monitors road surfaces as well as driving style via throttle input , acceleration , cornering , and brake pedal analysis and then adjusts a set of electronically controlled dampers to optimize both ride quality and handling . that ' s an order box i ' d be sure to check , as i thoroughly enjoyed it with my previous tester .
price $ 46 , 000 , but i ' d understand if they ' d bring a few examples in without the $ 2 , 300 optional vision pack that includes hid headlamps with led
j
blade drls as well as auto high beams , adaptive cornering technology , and
powerwash
jets , plus front and rear parking sensors and blindspot monitoring with rear cross - traffic detection . lastly , base premium models can be enhanced with some standalone features including the same heatable windshield from the cold climate pack for $ 400 , the prestige model ' s navigation , apps and voice recognition upgrade for $ 800 , satellite radio for $ 450 , and wi - fi for $ 350 .
of both . i must admit my previous xe 35t awd r - sport tester looked more enticing than this 20d awd , which makes sense being that it was a sportier model priced significantly higher , not to mention it came in zesty italian racing red paint over a stunning red on black two - tone interior , but the xe looks handsome in all of its trims , this current ebony black coated prestige trimmed example sporting a standard jet black cabin with light copper brown stitching in key areas for dramatic effect , plus standard dark satin brushed aluminum inlays on the instrument panel and doors . it looks more than up to snuff , especially when factoring in all the de rigueur piano black lacquered surfaces , genuine satin - finished and knurled metal detailing , plus of course the various electronic colour interfaces .
you may realize , all of jaguar ' s german competitors offered turbo - diesel alternatives to their gasoline counterparts in previous generations , but due to vw / audi ' s dieselgate scandal they ' ve pulled their tdis and may never offer them again ( instead opting to go hybrid and full electric ) , whereas mercedes - benz has eliminated its bluetec diesels as well , but not due to scandalous activity ( or at least nothing that made the news ) . bmw ' s diesel obviously meets current north american regulations or its 328d wouldn ' t be back in the lineup ( it was never pulled , according to munich , only a late arrival ) , while jaguar has gone to great lengths to make its ingenium diesel exceed regulations . first it passed euro 6 standards , and since then u . s . and canadian regs . being that this diesel arrived after dieselgate , regulators would ' ve been especially strict in testing , which means buyers should have nothing to worry about with respect to current or future emissions requirements .
prices start at a little under £27 , 000 for the 200ps petrol entry - level se , with prestige , portfolio , r - sport and s trims also offered . go diesel as most buyers will and you ' ll be looking at almost £30 , 000 for a 163ps se , with the 180ps models only around £500 more expensive . as for the pokier petrol models , well the 250ps 2 . 0i variant starts in r - sport guise at around £33 , 500 , while the supercharged 3 . 0 - litre s is priced at around £48 , 000 . as for equipment , well even the entry - level model gets features like satellite navigation , cruise control , 17 - inch alloy wheels , dab digital radio and a multifunction leather steering wheel . all manner of options , from stereo camera road sign recognition to blind spot monitoring and radar adaptive cruise control , can be fitted . there ' s self - parking , a laser head up display and perhaps the most intriguing feature of all , all surface progress control . this traction management system comes into its own on snow - covered driveways and ungritted winter roads - and even wet grass . it works with the zf auto gearbox and functions between 2mph and 19mph , activated by the cruise control switches on the steering wheel . having set the desired speed , the driver concentrates on steering - the car takes care of the rest , ensuring smooth progress without skidding and without the driver touching the pedals . as for safety , an ' autonomous emergency braking system is standard across the range .
mike may work tirelessly to find classic cars for edd to restore but he’s not lost touch with his car dealer roots , which is why he joined forces with car dealer magazine to launch the car dealer awards three years ago .
once again the crème de la crème of the motoring franchise and independent dealerships descended on the aptly named brewery in london for the biggest and best awards ceremony for this sector of the motoring world .
with 21 awards to give out , mike held out his hand along with the award and event sponsors . he said : “it’s been a fantastic night , not just for the winners but for the motoring industry . these awards prove what dedication and determination combined with a pride in your work can do . congratulations to all those who were nominated and the winners on the night . your success is richly deserved . ”
mike brewer from wheeler dealers hosts ‘mike brewer’s car clinic’ at the sunday of silverstone classic .
mike brewer is a well - known presenter of television motoring programs , not to mention a journalist , producer , campaigner , motoring enthusiast and family man . not bad for a car dealer from south london !
all images & videos on website courtesy of mike brewer , discovery channel and chris wynne imaging .
copyright urltoken © 2016 . all rights reserved . branding & website created by luna creative .
nearly 1 . 2 million of volkswagen ' s vehicles sold in the uk are fitted with the software behind the emissions scandal , the bbc has reported .
according to the broadcaster , the list includes
diesel - powered cars with the vw brand , audi , seat and skoda as well as vw commercial vehicles
. the bbc has a breakdown of the number of vehicles affected :
motorists have been told they must have their vehicles
corrected
, but volkswagen has not yet confirmed what the modification will involve .
the transport secretary , patrick mcloughlin , told channel 4 news :
the government ' s priority is to protect the public and i understand vw are contacting all uk customers affected . i have made clear to the managing director this needs to happen as soon as possible .
the government expects vw to set out quickly the next steps it will take to correct the problem and support owners of these vehicles already purchased in the uk .
the company ' s chief executive , martin winterkorn , announced his resignation earlier this month after it was revealed that the automaker had fitted its diesel cars with software designed to cheat on emissions tests . he will be replaced by matthias müller , the boss of porsche .
in the first four trading days since the scandal broke on 18 september , the company ' s shares fell by a third , cutting its value by €26 billion . german prosecutors have confirmed that they have opened an investigation into winterkorn .
around 11 million vehicles worldwide are believed to be affected , of which 500 , 000 were in the us . the uk is likely to be one of the worst - hit countries , with around 1 in 10 cars fitted with the technology . nearly a million cars are believed to be affected in france .
the law firm leigh day has written to matthias müller to demand that the company refunds uk consumers the premium they paid for their
clean
diesel cars , as well as compensation for other losses .
whilst we welcome the news that repairs will be undertaken to upgrade the affected cars to comply with eu nitrogen dioxide emission standards , such repairs may result in reduced fuel efficiency and increased co2 emissions which in turn may impact upon the vehicle excise duty payable and other associated costs . our clients are also very concerned about the impact of the use of defeat devices on the resale value of their cars .
some volkswagen owners have expressed concerns about how the scandal could affect the resale price of their cars and the possibility of cars being worth less than their initial finance arrangements .
dylan setterfield , a senior editor at a manual referred to by used - car dealers known as cap black book , earlier told the bbc that he did not expect any
significant impact
on used car values due to the scandal .
alan white is a news editor for buzzfeed news and is based in london .
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the crisis at volkswagen that has sparked fears hundreds of thousands of british cars could be flouting emissions controls laws has sent shockwaves through the motor dealer industry .
the boss of one of britain ' s biggest car chains says the company is fielding enquiries from worried vw buyers , while one independent dealer said the growing scandal could drive some companies out of business .
“we’ve made the decision not to buy any cars from the affected ranges but i can’t believe just vw is involved : if one is at it , they are all at it , ” she said .
“we set up this business in the recession because diesel was being encouraged but now they are turning against it , and we’re seeing cities like london , birmingham and southampton banning diesel cars or imposing extra charges , ” ms cassey said .
“how fair is it to penalise manufacturers if they are meeting the targets in the government’s tests ? it’s not their fault if the tests are out of date . ”
and with the questions about whether petrol cars could also be affected , she also warned that if the government decides cars must be re - registered under new tax bands because they are more polluting than first thought , then this could drive independent dealers out of business .
“small companies just don’t have the time or resources to go through all the paperwork involved , ” she said .
andy bruce , chief executive of lookers , one of britain’s largest dealers with almost 130 uk outlets , said the company was taking calls from customers trying to establish how the issue affects them but added that it was “too early” to say if sales had been affected .
things are not at a level that would cause alarm . inevitably some people are concerned but we have not got queues of people at the door demanding answers
“things are not at a level that would cause alarm , ” said the boss of the ftse 250 group , adding that vw had helped the situation by making it clear that their cars ' safety is not affected by the “defeat devices” .
“inevitably some people are concerned but we have not got queues of people at the door demanding answers , ” mr bruce said . “the problem is we don’t have enough clarity to give them more details and we have to give vw time to get to the bottom of what happened . ”
the scandal is also hitting the very largest british businesses , with companies in the stricken german car group’s supply chain under pressure as uncertainty remains over how vw’s future will be impacted by the scandal .
questions over whether “defeat devices” could be installed in other marques have hit shares in two of the country ' s largest engineers : gkn and johnson matthey .
gkn , whose driveline unit produces power train components used in almost one - in - two cars built worldwide , has seen its shares tumble as investors react to the scandal .
vw’s is one of the ftse 100 - listed firm ' s biggest clients , accounting for about 15pc of driveline’s £1 . 8bn of annual sales , and has smaller deals with the engineer’s powder metallurgy and land systems divisions .
ubs estimates that if vw sales fall by 10pc as result of the emissions scandal , gkn’s annual sales would take a £40m hit . however , with suspicions that other car makers could also be cheating in tests , if the scandal spreads the impact could be far greater .
sandy morris , an analyst at jefferies , said : “gkn’s share price is clearly saying that events at vw will cause global light vehicle sales to fall . that is possible , but i cannot help ponder how direct a link there is between consumers buying a new car – still almost certain to have lower emissions than the one it replaces – and events at vw . ”
a gkn spokesman said :
we never comment on our customers’ business or speculate about future sales . ”
catalyst manufacturer johnson matthey ’s share price has also taken a pounding , with 60pc of the company’s £3 . 1bn annual revenues coming from its emission control technology unit .
the blue - chip company is one of the world’s biggest suppliers of catalysts used in cars , and exane analysts said it is most at risk from a potential collapse in diesel car sales , while deutsche noted that catalysts used in diesel vehicles cost five times the amount of petrol ones .
however , the vw scandal could ultimately be positive for johnson matthey if it results in tighter regulation , according to some commentators .
“we believe this could be good news for the autocatalyst producers as it may increase the demand for higher valued or more complex autotcatalysts , ” said analysts at hsbc .
in july’s summer 2015 budget , chancellor george osborne proposed a 12 - month extension to the three - year period during which a new car or motorcycle does not need an mot . the proposal , which is part of an effort to save uk motorists a total of £100m , is set to be considered by the government in the forthcoming motoring service strategy .
many vehicle owners welcomed the proposal , seeing it as a cheaper alternative to the current system . however , others weren’t so keen , says jamie crowther , of the dealer group marshall motor holdings .
‘motoring agency surveys say the majority of customers are against change , ’ he said .
‘many customer - buying cycles , finance agreements and warranties are driven in the same three - year cycle . ’
members of the automotive trade condemned the proposal when quizzed by workshop , claiming that it would endanger motorists’ lives and diminish the importance of regular vehicle servicing , and a number of motoring organisations have spoken out against the idea , quoting figures that prove just how necessary mots are .
a spokesperson for the society of motor manufacturers and traders told us : ‘the department for transport’s own research has shown that decreasing the frequency of mot tests would increase deaths and serious injuries . some 22 per cent of cars currently fail their first mot , meaning that a fifth of vehicles would spend a year in an unroadworthy condition with a move to a fourth - year mot . ’
stuart james , pictured , the director of the retail motor industry federation , echoes the sentiment . ‘the uk currently has one of the lowest traffic fatality rates of all the countries in the eu , with fewer than 30 road deaths per million inhabitants , ’ he said . ‘but statistics show that we would be jeopardising our amazing road safety record if we increase the amount of time a new car spends without having an mot . ’
motor codes is the government - backed , self - regulatory body for the motor industry . despite the support it receives from the government , it remains strongly against the mot extension proposal .
kevin parker , head of marketing and communications at motor codes , said : ‘road safety is paramount to the motor industry , and the mot is a vital component of maintaining strict vehicle safety standards . motor codes endorses the current system – we would argue that a decrease in the frequency of mot testing would lead to a significant rise in the number of unroadworthy vehicles on the road , and as such would see an increase in deaths and serious injuries . ’
a number of motoring professionals believe the problem lies in the association many drivers make between mots and servicing . while mots are a yearly necessity , depending on how many miles the vehicle covers it should be serviced accordingly – in some cases , multiple times a year . simple checks can be carried out by the vehicle owner , for example the oil , water and tyre pressure , although this can be hindered by a lack of knowledge .
a recent survey by dealership group evans halshaw found that 15 per cent of motorists don’t know how to open their car bonnet and one in four tend to ignore any warning lights on the dashboard as they have no idea what they signify .
meanwhile , one in 20 participants were oblivious to the fact that you had to fill up the screen wash , while one in 10 didn’t know that tyres had to be inflated with air .
figures such as these reaffirm the need for vehicle owners to stay up to date with their cars’ servicing . a spokesperson for halford’s autocentres added : ‘even an average - mileage car is much more likely to be driving on unsafe and worn tyres and brakes after four years compared with three . having an automotive professional checking a car regularly is vital . ’
‘the current three - year mot requirement is a perfect opportunity for consumers to be made aware of any issues that their cars may have . ’
besides the safety of the vehicle’s occupants , there is another – and illegal – factor that worries many motoring organisations , says jamie caple , pictured , director of the derby - based car supermarket caralot .
he said : ‘we truly believe the only people this change will benefit will be unscrupulous car traders who actively change mileages on vehicles , as the first mot is the point where its mileage is logged and clocking becomes more challenging . we believe an mot at four years old will massively increase the opportunity for vehicles to be clocked , and seeing as how lots of manufacturers still don’t keep a national digital service record , getting away with it will be very easy . ’
finally , motorists are reminded that the new money - saving system could end up costing them more in the long run , with small , avoidable issues that would have been flagged in the three - year mot worsening into significant problems .
rachel greasby , general manager at the good garage scheme , said : ‘along with industry and motoring bodies including the imi and iam , we are all working hard to educate motorists about the importance of regular car servicing .
‘the mot is just as important for three - year - old cars as it is for older vehicles . the mot is not a cost to the motorist if it provides them with safe motoring . if problems go undetected , it could cost financially more at a later stage , or could even result in road safety issues , putting motorists and their families at risk . ’
so there you have it . the motoring industry seems resolutely against the four - year mot – but will the government listen ?
suzuki takes up residence at £1 . 5m state - of - the - art training centre for apprentices
well , what a night that was ! the great and the good of the uk’s used car industry gathered tonight at the brewery in central london for car dealer magazine’s used car awards – and now we can reveal who the winners were .
massive and warm congratulations to all concerned from everyone at car dealer – and best wishes from all of our sponsors who are mentioned below .
and that’s it ! congratulations once again to our worthy winners as well as those who were highly commended or made it to the finals .
the portsmouth - based trader has been on our radar and when we started checking the scores we weren’t surprised to see it was high on the list , but to jump straight to second was an incredible result .
‘twitter is just fantastic for the inquiries and relationships you build . it’s fantastic for getting your name out there and brand awareness . ’
she added : ‘it’s all me with a little help from the rest of the team . i think i must be going to the priory by the end of this year for twitter addiction , though ! ’
perrys has proved that tweets that engage and add value to your followers feed is the best recipe to grow on social media , as once again it is first on our list .
tom mughal , social media executive at perrys , said : ‘it’s fantastic news , thank you again ! we’ve worked hard in the past few months maintaining the social media efforts that began last year , so to be named the most influential car dealer for the second time is really a great achievement for everyone .
‘we benefit from a group - wide adoption of social media – content for our twitter page is coming from all over the company . photos from staff in our dealerships give our followers a true insight into the culture of perrys and what it’s like to walk through our doors .
‘even our chairman , ken savage , likes to suggest articles that he believes our audience will appreciate ! it’s great to have that kind of support for social media from the top . ’
but what’s the secret to its success ? mughal adds : ‘if your tweets are interesting and you provide exactly what your audience wants to see , then your engagement will go up . as a result , your klout score should rise too . the most important thing for us is to add value to our consumer journey . ’
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number of refugees accepted into the u . s . falls below the rest of the world combined for the first time since 1980
british motorists are preparing a blockbuster lawsuit that could cost scandal - hit volkswagen billions of pounds .
hundreds of thousands of vw , audi and seat owners are set to use new ‘class action’ rights .
rival car makers may be dragged into the lawsuit too if they are also found to have fiddled emissions tests . vw has admitted fixing the exhaust gas checks on its diesel cars to make them appear more green .
eleven million vehicles with the ‘defeat devices’ were sold worldwide and hundreds of thousands are thought to be on britain’s roads .
owners , whose cars could plunge in value , can now band together in ‘collective actions’ under the consumer rights act , which comes into force next thursday . vw has put aside £5billion to cope with the recall crisis but experts warn the final bill could force it into bankruptcy .
did merkel cover up volkswagen scandal ? as car maker ' s boss . . .
' an investor ' s nightmare ' : vw crisis set to cost £26bn as . . .
jacqueline young , of lawyers slater and gordon , said : ‘if uk cars are found to contain defeat devices , this would give rise to a claim by car owners and car dealerships who bought vw vehicles on the basis of false information and whose asset has now devalued .
‘the problem might not be limited to volkswagen , but rather may be endemic across the car industry . this could potentially give rise to a legal action the like of which this country has never seen . ’
steve fowler , editor - in chief of auto express , said : ‘if volkswagen are cheating in one emissions test , how many more have they been cheating on ? this could be just the tip of the iceberg . and if one manufacturer is cheating , what about the others ? the silence has been deafening . you would expect other car makers to be making hay at the expense of a rival . but they are not . the industry should be shouting from the roof tops that they are clean . the should come out quickly and say they are not cheating . ’
he added : ‘there is a real risk that sales could stall and residual values plummet . that means the car on your driveway is worth less . ’ martin williams of the institute of environmental sciences said higher than expected air pollution rates cast doubt on claims by manufacturers that they were reducing nitrogen oxide levels .
pollution should be falling , the professor said , adding : ‘draw your own conclusions . we’ve suspected for some time that something odd was going on . ’
ian colbeck , professor of aerosol science at the university of essex , said : ‘it has recently been estimated that the impact of no2 , the pollutant in question , on mortality is equivalent to 23 , 500 deaths every year in the uk . ’
experts at which ? said the existing system for testing emissions – set to be replaced in 2017 – was hopelessly inaccurate .
richard lloyd , the consumer group’s executive director , said : ‘our research has consistently shown that the official test used by car makers is seriously in need of updating as it contains a number of loopholes that lead to unrealistic performance claims . ’
huw irranca - davies , who chairs the commons environmental audit committee , said customers needed urgent reassurance that they had not been cheated .
the mp added : ‘this is not simply an issue of customers being deceived . air pollution from dangerous emissions in diesel vehicles is linked to thousands of deaths in the uk each year . the impact of poor air quality on health and mortality is already a scandal in the uk and in many of our major cities , and emissions from diesel vehicles are the prime culprit . ’
an aa spokesman said : ‘it concerns us that there may be pressure to ramp up vehicle excise duty , parking charges and clean air taxes because of this . ’
which ? said the average difference between the claimed and measured fuel economy figure of cars is 12 per cent .
its researchers found that the vw golf was the second - worst offender when it came to exaggerated claims of fuel economy .
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selena gomez is seen with same mystery man she was with in may . . . after news her ex justin bieber is engaged to hailey baldwin
hailey baldwin and justin bieber passionately kiss in the bahamas . . . as news of engagement spreads
khloe kardashian reveals she stopped breast - feeding daughter true . . . three months after giving birth
giuliana rancic takes a hike with bill . . . as the couple vacation with friends ahead of her return to e ! news
khloe kardashian shows off neon sign in true ' s nursery . . . as she reveals it ' s kris jenner ' s handwriting
ciara and husband russell wilson dance as they head to south africa for their honeymoon . . . two years after wedding
rapper del the funky homosapian falls off stage during gorillaz set . . . but he reassures fans he ' s ' alright ' as he recovers in hospital
makeup artist joyce bonelli reaches out to the kardashian clan on instagram . . . after the famous family ' fire ' and unfollow her on social media
daddy daycare ! jared kushner takes kids back to d . c . after weekend in new jersey - as ivanka dons a short dress for visit to a nyc asphalt company
sofia richie , 19 poses in a bikini top just after scott disick ' s ex kourtney kardashian , 39 , did the same . . . and fans call her out for it
naomi campbell wows in flamboyant feathered gown . . . while ashley graham sizzles in plunging lace dress as they walk in dolce & gabbana show in italy
naya rivera sells her five - bedroom la home for a cool $ 3 . 55 million after finalizing her divorce from ryan dorsey
mel b ' is unable to pay her back taxes amid ongoing divorce battle with stephen belafonte . . . as it ' s estimated the pair owe up to $ 650k ' to the irs
kylie jenner rocks curve - clinging attire as she shows off body . . . and considers going back to blonde
dakota johnson dons striped wrap dress in la . . . after calling co - star chris hemsworth ' spectacular '
cardi b hits back at troll who mocked her baby shower . . . as she shows off naked baby bump for photoshoot
buy your own celebrity hideaway ! castle adored by michael douglas and jack nicholson goes on sale for $ 5 . 2m ( and even comes with treehouse )
ant - man and the wasp soars to $ 76 million on opening weekend . . . beating its prequel by $ 19 million
liam payne and cheryl split : carefree 1d star returns to stage for first time since break - up . . . as he poses happily with his backing dancers in france
tristan thompson goes house hunting alone as he checks out $ 2m property in la with its own basketball court . . . just minutes from khloe ' s mansion
chris hemsworth kicks off filming for the star - studded men in black spin - off as he cuts a sharp figure in london . . . 21 years after the first film hit screens
jill zarin admits she ' s ready to date again after being spotted with handsome businessman . . . following beloved husband bobby ' s death
dj khaled cancels wireless performance due to ' travel issues ' just hours before his slot . . . as fans rage over his ' vacation ' snap
13 reasons why villain justin prentice says he ' s not bothered by social media trolls . . . and that getting attacked online means he ' s doing his job as an actor
' she didn ' t get those from me ' : kylie jenner says daughter stormi has dad travis scott ' s lips . . . as star reveals her breasts are ' three times the size ' post - baby
kevin hart celebrates 39th birthday in las vegas . . . nearly a year after sin city cheating scandal
dakota fanning joins michael b . jordan in voice cast of western anime series gen : lock
' i regret making it public ' : guy pearce is remorseful for asserting his former co - star kevin spacey was ' handsy ' with him on the set of l . a . confidential
iconic movie home where molly ringwald ' s sixteen candles was filmed finally sells for $ 1 . 135 million after two years on market
kendra caldwell duggar struggles through labor on counting on . . . before welcoming baby garrett
why madonna dated only toyboys and why , as she pushes 60 , she ' s finally got bored with them . . . by the writer who knows her best
brooklyn beckham and squeeze lexy panterra get cozy at london club . . . enraging ex tallia storm
yolanda hadid ' splits from boyfriend matt minnis ' . . . less than a year after david foster divorce
brooklyn beckham utilises his camera skills at wireless festival . . . after his debut photography book was slammed by fans
justin bieber is the perfect gentleman as he handles the bags . . . while crop top - clad hailey baldwin struts alongside
' i just don ' t want stuff ' kim kardashian doesn ' t buy her kids gifts to avoid spoiling them and sticks to a household budget . . . but says kanye is the ' biggest shopper '
joanna gaines shares husband chip ' s unique birth tradition . . . as he cradles newborn son crew
kylie jenner gushes baby stormi is ' changing every week ' and ' has cutest personality ' . . . as new mom admits to binge watching the handmaid ' s tale
lena dunham says she was ' really smart ' to date ex jack antonoff . . . after posting nude selfie
tom brady shows no mercy as he takes on gisele and his cancer - survivor mom in dodgeball . . . with a ' no crying ' rule
lauren conrad ' s son liam takes a handful of cake . . . as proud mom ' celebrates one year with our little guy '
khloe kardashian ' anxious but eager ' as she gets back to work for the first time since true ' s birth . . . and her alarm goes off at 4 . 35am
nia vardalos ' divorce filing . . . as duo split following 25 years of marriage
kendall jenner boats in sheer dress . . . after snuggling up to her nba beau ben simmons at khloe kardashian ' s party
keyshia cole announces pregnancy on instagram . . . as boyfriend niko khale posts beach pic of couple
anthony bourdain leaves majority of his $ 1 . 2m estate - which was rumored to be worth at least $ 16m - to 11 - year - old daughter ariane
ben affleck ' s $ 19m la mansion is surrounded by moving trucks . . . as it ' s revealed girlfriend lindsay shookus plans to spend more time on west coast
beaming kate gazes lovingly at sleeping prince louis as she and william attend his christening in their . . .
troubled actor jonathan rhys meyers is detained at lax after getting into a ' drunken fight with his wife and . . .
jamie oliver reveals the best way to organise your fridge - as he shares his tips for how you can avoid . . .
lesbian couple are charged with neglect after they ' repeatedly gave young son marijuana for good behavior . . .
american man who posed as a saudi prince to try and buy a stake in a miami hotel was busted when the . . .
' we only knew each other between action and cut ' : robin wright breaks her silence on kevin spacey ' s sexual . . .
final four thai cave boys and coach are in ' good health ' but must remain trapped underground for at least . . .
rescued thai cave boys face a lifetime of trauma from their ordeal as traumatic memories could trigger fear . . .
frantic parents of rescued thai cave boys have not been told which children have been saved – as teammates . . .
three men will be executed over the infamous gang - rape and murder of a female student , 23 , on a delhi bus in . . .
hollywood hostage actor who lost his eye , had nose and tongue slit , and was ' deprived of a member of his . . .
handcuffed harvey weinstein pleads not guilty to new rape charges , then shares a laugh with his lawyer after . . .
mesmerising maps reveal record - breaking temperatures across the world as the earth experiences ' one of the . . .
couple arrested after their four - year - old son accidentally shots himself between the eyes could face ten . . .
number of refugees accepted into the u . s . falls below the rest of the world combined for the first time . . .
revealed : the four warning signs you could be heading for divorce - including critcising your partner ' s . . .
historically bad : orioles ' chris davis on pace to finish with the lowest qualifying batting average ever , . . .
' he was my son ! ' devastated father sobs as he is detained by police moments after his two - year - old . . .
here comes aunt meghan ! duchess of sussex looks elegant in an olive green shift dress by ralph lauren as she . . .
here come the godparents ! kate and william are joined by childhood friends - including guy pelly - and the . . .
fit for a prince ! louis becomes the eighth royal baby to wear the historic honiton lace christening robe on . . .
' i hope he stays like this ' : kate and the archbishop of canterbury share a joke about sleeping louis as she . . .
blue for a boy ! george and charlotte both wear the shade for their little brother louis ' christening as the . . .
such a perfect princess ! cute charlotte steals the show again with her royal wave - and a very polite . . .
pregnant pippa looks glowing in a very appropriate shade of baby blue - as she joins her parents and brother . . .
it ' s a hat trick for mcqueen ! kate repeats the look she chose for george and charlotte ' s christenings in . . .


the culham centre for fusion energy ( ccfe ) is the uk 's national laboratory for fusion research .

it is located at the culham science centre , near culham , oxfordshire , and is the site of the joint european torus ( jet ) , mega ampere spherical tokamak ( mast ) and the now closed small tight aspect ratio tokamak ( start ) .

formerly known as ukaea culham , the laboratory was renamed in october 2009 as part of organisational changes at its parent body , the united kingdom atomic energy authority ( ukaea ) .

since september 2008 the director has been professor steven cowley , and the centre has been engaged in work towards the final detailed design of iter as well as preparatory work in support of demo .

in 2014 it was announced the centre would house the new race ( remote applications in challenging environments )

culham centre for fusion energy

the culham science centre for fusion energy in oxfordshire , formerly known as ukaea culham .
uk atomic energy authority scientists working on the mast upgrade tokamak fusion reactor at culham centre for fusion energy .
culham ' s new tokamak mast upgrade is to . . . - culham centre for fusion energy / uk atomic energy authority | facebook
updates about culham centre for fusion energy and our work on the ultimate energy source : nuclear fusion ! operated by the uk atomic energy authority ( ukaea ) .
culham centre for fusion energy ( ccfe ) is the uk’s national laboratory for fusion research . ccfe ( formerly known as ukaea culham ) is based at culham science centre in oxfordshire , and is owned and operated by the united kingdom atomic energy authority .
the project will involve extensive collaboration with the world leading culham centre for fusion energy in oxfordshire . . . .
culham centre for fusion energy ( ccfe ) is the uk ' s national laboratory for fusion research . ccfe is based at culham science centre in oxfordshire , and is owned and operated by the united kingdom atomic energy authority ( ukaea ) .
culham centre for fusion energy is responsible for the operation of the jet facilities , via a contract between the european commission and the united kingdom atomic energy authority .
united kingdom atomic energy authority the uk atomic energy authority ( ukaea ) carries out fusion energy research on behalf of the uk government at culham science centre .
the culham centre for fusion energy ( ccfe ) is one of the world ` s leading fusion research laboratories . the ukaea hosts and manages the jet nuclear fusion energy . . .
@ fusionenergy a big thank you to culham centre for fusion energy for giving us the tour today . experiments at the frontiers of science . urltoken
we are keen to encourage as many people as possible to view the fusion research facilities at culham centre for fusion energy . our policy for visits is given below .
from 31 october 2009 , the uk ' s home of fusion research has a new name : the culham centre for fusion energy ( ccfe ) .
on 31 october , the uk ' s home of fusion research adopted a new name : the culham science centre for fusion energy ( ccfe ) .
biographies of key staff at culham centre for fusion energy . details of the organisation of jet can be found on the eurofusion website .
the culham centre for fusion energy near oxford is largely funded by the eu and dozens of its scientists come from outside the uk .
the uk ` s new fusion experiment mast upgrade - operated by ukaea at culham centre for fusion energy - will bring fusion closer to the power grid . . . .
culham science centre - culham science centre combines world - class publicly funded research | culham science centre combines world - class publicly funded research into fusion power ; commercial technology organisations and culham innovation centre , to create a powerhouse of high technology innovation and enterprise in south oxfordshire , just a few miles south of the city of oxford .
culham centre for fusion energy says the cash injection will keep it at the head of its field internationally and is a vote of confidence from europe .
the mega amp spherical tokamak ( mast ) facility at culham centre for fusion energy is undergoing a major upgrade that will enhance the uk ' s role in international fusion research .
at culham centre for fusion energy , which is part of the uk atomic energy authority , we are amongst the world ` s leaders in this endeavour , integrating science , . . .
hrh the duke of york visited ukaea yesterday to see at first hand its pioneering work on fusion energy at culham science centre near abingdon .
some of culham science centre’s smaller and start - up high technology companies are hosted in the culham innovation centre , a dedicated business incubator managed by oxford innovation ltd . for more details , see www . culham - ic . co . uk .
uk fusion programme nails its colours to the mast the uk ' s innovative mega amp spherical tokamak ( mast ) facility at culham centre for fusion energy will receive a £30 million upgrade .
the culham fusion project , dubbed mast upgrade , is run by the uk atomic energy authority .
culham science centre is home to the uk fusion programme run by the research arm of the uk atomic energy authority ( ukaea ) . it is the leading uk centre of excellence in plasma science and engineering .
the uk atomic energy authority , and its research arm culham centre for fusion energy , are based at culham science in oxfordshire . responsible for operating both the uk’s fusion research programme and europe’s jet fusion facility , it is also diversifying to support a wider range of nuclear research communities in areas including materials research and remote handling . culham is presently involved in two nnuf projects :
the culham science centre site is also an attractive location for hi - tech businesses . it houses accommodation for a diverse range of science and technology tenants , including an innovation centre for start - up companies . more information on commercial property at culham is available at urltoken .
culham science centre is home to over 45 commercial businesses from start - ups to major international organisations .
ukaea’s fusion lab culham centre for fusion energy oversees britain’s fusion programme , soon to be headed by the new mast upgrade experiment . it also hosts the world’s largest fusion research facility , jet ( joint european torus ) , which it operates for european scientists under a contract with the european commission .
ukaea’s fusion lab culham centre for fusion energy oversees britain’s fusion programme , headed by the mast upgrade ( mega amp spherical tokamak ) experiment . it also hosts the world’s largest fusion research facility , jet ( joint european torus ) , which it operates for european scientists under a contract with the european commission .
culham science centre owned and managed by the united kingdom atomic energy authority , is sited in one of the most successful science locations in the country .
culham science centre has an exciting future , browse through our pages and see what you could be part of .
we ' re hoping to repeat our world record shots and extend them ,
prof cowley , who is director of the culham centre for fusion energy - which hosts jet , told bbc news .
if you have a question about fusion or culham centre for fusion energy that is not answered by this website , or have a comment about the website , please use the form below . we will reply as soon as possible .
the united kingdom ' s fusion research programme is based at culham centre for fusion energy ( ccfe ) in oxfordshire . the work is funded by the engineering and physical sciences research council and by the european union under the euratom treaty .
“it is simply bonkers to leave euratom , ” says steven cowley , a theoretical physicist at the university of oxford who until last year was director of the culham centre for fusion energy , which hosts jet .
general fusion’s science team includes phd scientists from leading fusion research institutions including l’école polytechnique in france , the culham centre for fusion technology in the uk , the joint institute for high temperatures at the russian academy of sciences , and kyushu university in japan .
culham science centre ( csc ) is delighted to announce our tenant oxis energy has secured a £3 . 7 million investment from brazilian private equity fund aerotec .
originally formed in 1954 to carry out nuclear research for the government , the authority now manages the uk fusion research programme at culham centre for fusion energy in oxfordshire , including the mega amp spherical tokamak ( mast ) experiment . it also operates the joint european torus ( jet ) fusion facility on behalf of the european fusion development agreement ( efda ) at culham . fusion research at culham is funded by the research councils uk energy programme and by the european union under the euratom treaty . see urltoken and urltoken for more information .
the controlled exhaust of power and particles from a hot fusion plasma , through the ' divertor ' area of the reactor , is arguably the biggest challenge facing a future fusion power plant using the tokamak design , according to the culham centre for fusion energy ( ccfe ) .
this is achieved by confining the gas within a magnetic field and then heating it to temperatures of around 150 million celsius , according to dr james harrison , tokamak science programme delivery manager at culham centre for fusion energy .
the uk atomic energy authority ( ukaea ) carries out fusion energy research on behalf of the government at culham science centre near abingdon in oxfordshire . it is also developing culham as a location of hi - tech research and business , with around 40 tenant companies now on site and ukaea’s new race robotics centre and materials research facility opening earlier in 2016 .
since the 1970s , the culham centre has hosted an experimental reactor known as the joint european torus ( jet ) that holds the global record for sustaining the longest burst of fusion .
mast ( mega amp spherical tokamak ) is the uk ' s fusion energy experiment , based at culham centre for fusion energy . along with nstx - u – a complementary experiment at princeton in the usa – mast is one of the world ' s two leading spherical tokamaks ( sts ) .
subject to the eu extending the uk’s contract to host the world - class nuclear fusion facility beyond 2018 , the uk has agreed to underwrite its fair share of jet ’s running costs , which is based at the culham centre for fusion energy in oxfordshire .
the uk’s new fusion experiment mast upgrade at culham , oxfordshire is to receive funding to tackle one of the hottest issues in fusion energy research – plasma exhaust .
the ada lovelace centre ( alc ) is an integrated , cross - disciplinary data intensive science centre , for better exploitation of research carried out at our large . . .
as project manager for the national ignition facility ( nif ) and as principal associate director for the nif & photon science directorate , he was responsible for completing construction and bringing into full operation the world’s largest , highest energy optical instrument for studying high energy density physics in the laboratory and for studying inertial fusion energy .
in the meantime , any future arrangements for culham will depend on settling several fundamental questions .
the belief at the culham centre is that having proved the basic science of fusion , the project is moving into a phase of engineering in which designs for an affordable commercial reactor are explored .
the joint european torus ( jet ) , located at culham centre for fusion energy , is the world’s largest and most powerful tokamak and the focal point of the european fusion research programme . designed to study fusion in conditions approaching those needed for a power plant , it is the only device currently operating that can use the deuterium - tritium fuel mix that will be used for commercial fusion power .
in fusion energy at culham . we ' re looking for an electrical / electronics engineer / technician , an electrical technician and apprentice electricians . more info and online application :
funding for mast upgrade enhancements announced culham ' s new tokamak mast upgrade is to receive funding to tackle one of the hottest issues in fusion energy research – plasma exhaust .
ukaea researches fusion energy and related technologies , with the aim of positioning the uk as a leader in sustainable nuclear energy .
to take sts to the next level , more powerful and flexible machines will be needed . with this in mind , culham centre for fusion energy is implementing a major upgrade that will give mast unique capabilities . main features of the upgrade include :
ukaea is also growing a burgeoning technology programme – developing expertise and design / testing facilities in the key areas required for fusion power production . two new facilities have just been constructed at culham science centre :
culham conference centre is managed by the award - winning elior uk ; one of the uk’s leading catering , hospitality and facilities management organisations .
do you want to help shape the future of the world ' s energy ? if so , culham centre for fusion energy is the place to be and we can offer a range of career opportunities . these include scientific and engineering roles , as well as technical and administrative positions supporting our research programme .
the uk fusion programme is centred around magnetic confinement fusion at the culham centre for fusion energy ( ccfe ) , one of the world ' s leading centres for fusion research - in addition , we are collaborating with the euratom directorate of the european commission to fund the joint european torus ( jet ) , the largest and most powerful magnetic fusion device in the world . jet is also based at culham and is a precursor to the next generation fusion facility
iter
, which is now being built in cadarache , france .
nuclear fusion is one of the most promising options for generating large amounts of carbon - free energy in the future .
with recent breakthroughs in fusion technology , and new capital accelerating the pace of development , fusion energy is advancing quickly . governments and companies around the globe have realized the potential of fusion energy and are investing in the future of limitless , clean energy .
it is the largest single research centre funded by the european union in britain .
new uk atomic energy authority board ready to take on fusion challenges - gov . uk
in 1997 , scientists pushed 24mw of energy into jet and managed to get 16mw out - a fusion energy gain of about 0 . 7 . a fusion energy gain factor ( known as q ) of greater than one is required to achieve
breakeven
, where the amount of energy produced equals the amount of energy consumed .
to utilise fusion as an energy source on earth , gas is heated to extreme temperatures , over 100 million degrees – hotter than the centre of the sun . this creates a plasma in which fusion reactions take place . a commercial power station will use the energy produced by fusion reactions to generate electricity .
photograph of professor ian chapman at culham science centre is attached . for more information or interviews please contact nick holloway , ukaea media manager , at nick . holloway @ urltoken or on 01235 466232 .
imo there needs to be a shift in focus on the approach to fusion energy generation .
eurofusion funds fusion research activities in accordance with its roadmap to the realisation of fusion energy . the roadmap outlines the most efficient way to realise fusion electricity by 2050 .
the laboratory , based at culham science centre in oxfordshire , was previously known as ukaea culham , and has been the site of the uk fusion program since opening in 1960 . it also operates the jet ( joint european torus ) experiment on behalf of its european partners .
it was important for us to have an office in oxfordshire as it is centrally located with easy access to london . culham innovation centre was the perfect fit with it being located at a science campus combined with the flexibility to expand at the centre without costly overheads associated with office moves .
fusion energy fusion research aims to copy the process which powers the sun for a new large - scale source of clean energy here on earth . when light atomic nuclei fuse together to form heavier ones , a large amount of energy is released . to do this , fuel is heated to extreme temperatures , ten times hotter than the centre of the sun , forming a plasma in which fusion reactions take place . a commercial power station will use the energy produced by fusion reactions to generate electricity .
the laboratory , based at culham science centre in oxfordshire , was previously known as ukaea culham , and has been the site of the uk fusion programme since opening in 1960 . it also operates the jet ( joint european torus ) experiment on behalf of its european research partners .
the ukaea hosts and manages the jet nuclear fusion energy experiment on behalf of the eu and is also home to the uk ` s mast - u fusion energy experiment . . . .
nuclear fusion , the process that powers the sun , can play a big part in our carbon - free energy future . culham is one of the world ' s leading fusion research laboratories . our scientists and engineers are working with partners around the globe to develop fusion as a new source of cleaner energy for tomorrow ' s power stations .
the tokamak is the most developed magnetic confinement system and is the basis for the design of future fusion reactors using this method . it was invented in the soviet union during the 1960s and soon adopted by researchers around the world . the joint european torus ( jet – pictured ) , located at culham centre for fusion energy , is the largest and most powerful tokamak currently operating .
culham has concentrated on magnetic confinement fusion research ( mainly so - called tokamak devices ) ever since . in 1978 , in addition to a number of uk fusion devices , culham was chosen to host the european ‘flagship’ fusion project , the joint european torus ( jet ) . jet has been operating at culham ever since , and remains the principal experiment in european and world wide fusion research .
© 2012 - 2018 all rights reserved fusion energy consortium™ all rights are reserved in the fusion energy consortium™ intellectual work product as embodied in this website . the fusion energy consortium project was begun in 2012 and our intent is to launch the consortium as described in the fusion energy consortium section of this website once sponsors are fully in place and permission is granted by them to make public announcements .
alexandrine kántor , a senior electrical designer at the culham centre for fusion energy , said on twitter that it was the first she’d heard of it . “always nice to know you might lose your job via the newspapers , cause the gov’ didn ' t think it necessary to tell your ceo , ” she wrote .
first mast upgrade machine hardware arrives at culham a milestone in the project to upgrade the mega amp spherical tokamak was reached earlier this month when the first machine component for the upgrade was delivered to culham .
since the vote for brexit , many at the centre have become
extremely nervous
amid uncertainty about future financing and freedom of movement .
hrh the duke of york visited ukaea to see at first hand the pioneering work on fusion energy .
during a run of the experiment in september 2013 , the small amount of energy released through the fusion reaction exceeded the amount of energy being absorbed by the fuel - a first at any fusion facility .
the other media attractive fusion technology is nif , but this has no intention to be an energy generation system , it’s purely for weapons research .
fusion research at culham is funded by the engineering and physical sciences research council and by the european union under the euratom treaty .
one kilogram of fusion fuel can provide the same amount of energy as 10 million kilograms of fossil fuel .
the uk atomic energy authority actively promotes equality and values diversity in our workforce . these skills are central to race ' s remit as a national centre . . .
over the decades , hundreds of european scientists and engineers have spent time at culham to work at jet and for many years there was even a european school for their children .
centronic has worked on projects for many key customers in the space industry , providing silicon photodiodes for sun acquisition sensors for launch vehicles for various space exploration projects . we have also supplied detectors for imaging systems f . . .
fusion research aims to copy the process which powers the sun for a new large - scale source of clean energy here on earth . when light atomic nuclei fuse together to form heavier ones , a large amount of energy is released . to do this , fuel is heated to extreme temperatures , ten times hotter than the centre of the sun , forming a plasma in which fusion reactions take place . a commercial power station will use the energy produced by fusion reactions to generate electricity .
the uk atomic energy authority’s new board holds its first meeting on 13 december , following the recruitment of a team of world - renowned physicists and highly - skilled professionals as directors . the board will lead the authority into a new era of unique and exciting challenges . these challenges include overseeing the authority’s main research into nuclear fusion at culham centre for fusion energy ( through operation of the jet and mast fusion experiments ) and , further into the future , positioning the authority to best exploit work on the new international iter device and future fusion power plants .
the reason i state direct generation is that the net energy gain can be lower for a workable commercial reactor .
culham science centre is a vibrant and exciting place where students , apprentices and highly qualified technicians from all corners of the world come to work , and relax , in the campus - like environment .
why work at culham ? hear from our employees in their words – watch the video below on careers at the uk atomic energy authority , which runs ccfe .
across the world a new generation of machines are being built that will push the envelope of fusion science and lead to breakeven – the point where energy input is matched by the energy output by the fusion reaction – and beyond .
the uk atomic energy authority is assembling mast upgrade at culham science centre and the device is within months of its first operations . the £21 million of plasma exhaust enhancements will be phased between now and 2022 . funding will come jointly from the european fusion research consortium eurofusion and the uk’s engineering and physical sciences research council .
ukaea is an executive non - departmental public body , sponsored by the department for business , energy & industrial strategy .
nuclear fusion has the potential to offer an almost limitless source of energy with minimal environmental impact . while the timeline for delivery is beyond the 2050 emission target fusion is an attractive technology that needs to be developed .
fusion is different . the nuclear arm of the european union , known as euratom , pays a consortium of national labs and university groups—dubbed eurofusion—to carry out fusion research , most of which is aimed at supporting iter . eurofusion will receive €424 million for the work over 5 years ( 2014–18 ) , and another €283 million will go to the culham centre for operating jet and hosting iter - related research .
staff at culham are running through a range of possible scenarios for their future from the worst - case of closure to one in which work continues .
this could bring jet up to the coveted goal of
breakeven
where fusion yields as much energy as it consumes .
this comes just as preparations are under way for an important new run of fusion tests next year .
the information gained from this research is seen as crucial for shaping a massive international fusion effort , an experimental fusion reactor known as iter , being built at cadarache in southern france - many of whose design features are derived from work at culham . .
but clarity on the likely outcome is not easy to come by . the department for business , energy and industrial strategy declined requests for an interview with science minister jo johnson .
these upgrades will allow fusion scientists to improve their understanding of plasma exhaust physics and enable better predictive modelling of this issue for the prototype fusion powerplant demo .
while pacer fusion reliably produced the conditions to ignite a fusion plasma by using a tiny amount of fissile material as an igniter ( nuclear fission was used to produce fusion ) , is it not worthwhile to as a planet start to generate fusion energy using the pacer fusion approach rather than waiting another 30 – 50 years for tokamaks to produce commercial energy at a reasonalbe and competitive cost ? ucrl : 98458 pacer revisited , – by dr . ralph moir – urltoken
the national ignition facility in the us recently made a fusion breakthrough of its own . nif takes a different approach to fusion from that taken by jet and iter , concentrating laser energy on a hydrogen fuel pellet to initiate fusion .
owned and managed by the united kingdom atomic energy authority , culham science centre combines world - class publicly funded research into fusion power , commercial technology organisations and culham innovation centre , to create a powerhouse of high technology innovation and enterprise in south oxfordshire , just a few miles south of the city of oxford . it is sited in one of the most successful science locations in the country and is a partner in science vale oxford , along with other public and private sector organisations in the area , to promote southern oxfordshire as a global hot spot for enterprise and innovation in science , high technology and the application of knowledge .
professor chapman will take over the role from present ceo steve cowley on 1 october . he will lead the uk’s magnetic confinement fusion research programme at culham science centre as the new mast upgrade experiment approaches its 2017 launch – and the operation of the world’s largest nuclear fusion device , jet , on behalf of european scientists . he will also take forward ukaea’s increasing range of hi - tech activities at the culham site near oxford , including the recently - opened materials research facility , the race robotics centre , and the oxford advanced skills apprentice training facility .
the first major element of the mast upgrade tokamak has arrived at culham , as the project to upgrade the uk ' s fusion research device gathers pace .
fancy a challenge ? how about working on fusion : the ultimate energy source . hear from our staff in this new video :
while large scale experiments such as these continue , the technological improvements that have enabled these advances have attracted new players in fusion energy . private companies such as general fusion see the urgent need for clean , on - demand energy sources to combat climate change , and are leveraging the agility and efficiency of private industry to bring fusion power to the grid decades sooner .
ccfe director professor ian chapman said the centre faced its ‘greatest period of uncertainty’ and feared it could lose hundreds of researchers .
consolidating our oxfordshire training at culham science centre is the perfect fit as we are now based alongside the future of uk power . in addition , the uk atomic energy authority strongly believes in apprentices and equipping them with higher - level skills to help young people advance to senior positions with industry leading employers .
with energy demand growing at an alarming rate , fusion energy has the potential to provide a long - term environmentally responsible solution for baseload electricity production . today at jet , it is a fairly routine operation to heat plasmas to 200 million degrees , initiate and maintain a fusion reaction in a controlled and predictable way , and understand and improve plasma performance . iter is designed to achieve an energy gain of at least ten , and should demonstrate that a fusion power plant is feasible . this means that fusion could be providing an invaluable extra energy option from the middle of this century .
however , higher gain factors are required to achieve self - sustaining fusion , where the reactions continue without any external input of energy .
the scientists have been working on creating a working fusion reactor at culham for years but now they have been given funding to tackle one’s of the biggest problems – getting rid of the waste gas created in the process .
a question mark hangs over a world - leading laboratory that has pioneered research into fusion for nearly 40 years .
since joining general fusion in 2010 , he has held multiple responsibilities : building strategic partnerships internationally with fusion research institutions and key players in the energy industry ; overseeing corporate strategy , communications and government relations ; and now as cto he is responsible for developing and implementing general fusion’s technology strategy and science program .
it also establishes a common market in nuclear goods , services , capital and people within the eu . importantly , euratom also has established nuclear co - operation agreements ( ncas ) that enable trade with countries outside the eu , including the us , japan , australia and canada . as well as promoting long - term r & d projects , notably the iter fusion programme in the south of france and jet ( the joint european torus ) based near oxford at the culham centre for fusion energy .
inside a fusion reactor , light atomic nuclei are fused together to form larger ones , releasing a huge amount of energy in the process .
france , and first plasma is anticipated for 2025 . fusion is progressing and is on the cusp of a revolution .
there are still great challenges to overcome before fusion becomes a viable source of energy for the future but continued funding will not only provide the facilities and research base necessary for progression but also the skilled scientists and engineers needed to continue to work in this area .
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the uk atomic energy authority ' s new board is to hold its first meeting .
this process releases masses of energy which can be captured and used to generate electricity .
jet was the result of a european plan for fusion power conceived in the 1970s . recently , the machine has undergone a series of upgrades to bring components in line with those planned for iter . in coming years , it will shed light on some of the challenges for making fusion a success .
the uk ' s plan to leave euratom has thrown into doubt the future of the joint european torus ( jet ) , a nuclear - fusion facility in culham , uk .
taking mast apart - piece by piece the first phase of the mast upgrade project continues with the removal of mast ' s centre column .
oxfordshire is home to the world’s best scientists and being based at culham provides us with easy access to that talent .
we did it ! success for the first beam of the accelerator resulting from the collaboration between europe and japan . the experiment will help engineers validate the materials for demo fusion machine .
and , beyond iter , plans are already being developed for the first fusion power station , a project called demo - british officials had high hopes that culham would land the prestigious task of designing it . now they are much less confident .
advances in plasma physics , computing , modern electronics and materials science have progressed the technology to the edge of being a viable source of power , and put fusion energy in a position to disrupt the multi - trillion dollar energy industry .
the fundamental issue i predict with tokamak is that at the point when it produces net fusion energy , let alone a net energy generation capability , more and more money will have been thrown at this technology with little or no benefit .
fusion energy is a national priority for the european union , china , south korea , and japan – all have specific goals , timescales , and funding to implement successful fusion energy programs . in addition to independent national projects , 35 countries representing more than half of the world’s population are collaborating on the iter tokamak project under construction in the south of france .
the way fusion works is that scientists take a form of hydrogen found in seawater , deuterium , and heat it up in a reactor until it is ten times hotter than the centre of the sun .
now the uk’s nuclear fusion experiment mast upgrade , at culham in oxfordshire , is to receive £21m to investigate new technology to cool the extremely hot plasma exhaust produced by the reaction .
fusion power plants should provide a baseload supply of large amounts of electricity , at costs that are estimated to be broadly similar to other energy sources .
tokamak research has probably given more insight into fusion , however as an energy generation solution i believe it to be a bit of a white elephant .
additionally : in the originating questions article it stated that no one had created a net energy fusion reaction , this is incorrect . see hydrogen bombs .
i am extremely pleased to appoint professor ian chapman as ceo of the uk atomic energy authority . he is a real asset to the sector and will use his energy and expertise to promote the uk’s fusion research both at home and internationally .
the lapd team is extremely happy at culham science centre , which is why we decided to expand on site rather than move elsewhere . it has a great campus feel and we benefit from being part of a thriving environment with a range of different companies on site .
inertial confinement fusion energy is doomed since one can never shield the line of sight lenses or mirrors from the high energy neutron damage . magnetic confinement fusion is doomed since a reactor cannot be built without testing the components – and this is impossible without a working reactor . catch - 22 comes to mind .
the most recent european roadmap for the realisation of fusion energy foresees a demonstration fusion power plant to put electricity on the grid in the early 2040s . jet has demonstrated fusion power – however , the challenge of making electricity continuously and at a competitive price is considerable . much of this challenge involves the development of suitable materials that remain robust and strong in the challenging environment of a future fusion power station .
centronic has close relationships with many research facilities worldwide , and provides detectors for measurement and environmental control for research establishments studying materials utilising particle physics , synchrotron , fusion and fission tec . . .
nuclear fusion has long held out the promise of clean , safe energy but dealing with the extremely high temperatures generated in the reactors is no easy task .
howard wilson was appointed as programme director in 2017 , a post which he holds alongside a chair in plasma physics at the university of york . he joined the uk atomic energy authority in 1988 as a theoretical plasma physicist after graduating with a phd in theoretical high energy particle physics from the university of cambridge . he moved to the university of york in 2005 , and became director of the york plasma institute in 2011 . he has been director of the epsrc centre for doctoral training in the science and technology of fusion energy since 2012 . he has served on international fusion programme advisory committees including for the helmholtz association , research laboratory for the physics of advanced plasmas , st petersburg , the kstar tokamak ( south korea ) and australia national university .
iter concept is very problematic . well , even if the iter succeeds , the cost of energy generated will be so expensive that will be hard to compete with other forms of cheaper energy production . thus , my bet is on electrostatic fusion machines .
fusion is the process which powers the sun and stars . when light atomic nuclei fuse together to form heavier ones , a large amount of energy is released .
since the first machines were constructed in the 1950s , exponential improvements in energy output have been achieved and fusion is now approaching the realm of viable power plants .
fusion is the process that powers the sun and a decades - long quest has attempted to replicate it here on earth to provide a clean source of energy .
general fusion collaborates with leading research institutions around the world , drawing on decades of scientific investigation to accelerate development of its magnetized target fusion system . these partnerships pair general fusion’s in - house expertise with deep specialist knowledge across plasma physics , shockwave physics , pulsed power engineering and materials technology , reducing technical risk and fast - tracking our approach to fusion energy .
if the united kingdom votes to leave the european union on 23 june , the exit will break up cross - border collaborations and cut off e . u . funding for u . k . scientists . for fusion research , the possibility of a brexit is particularly worry ing . europe’s largest fusion facility , the joint european torus ( jet ) , is sited just south of oxford , u . k . ; a vote to leave would put it in a legal limbo that could halt vital research supporting the international thermonuclear experimental reactor ( iter ) , now under construction in southern france . jet dominates much of the work at its host institution , the culham centre for fusion energy . a brexit “certainly will make us very vulnerable , ” says steve cowley , the center’s director .
. he led preparatory studies and the physics proposal for the mast tokamak before becoming head of culham’s experiments department in 1998 . more recently , he co - ordinated initial culham work on iter diagnostics . dr morris has had many roles in eu fusion programme and project committees , starting with the jet scientific council , and he is currently an ad personam member of the efda science and technology advisory committee .
ian chapman became ceo of the uk atomic energy authority and head of ccfe in october 2016 . he joined culham in 2004 , becoming head of tokamak science in 2014 . between 2010 - 2014 he led the stability programme within tokamak science . he has also held a number of international roles in fusion . he was a task force leader for jet from 2012 to 2014 . he was appointed a member of the programme advisory committee for us experiment nstx - u in 2013 . he has chaired international working groups for iter and led work packages within the eu fusion programme .
nif has a military purpose indeed . nif started their history as one of the project of stockpile stewardship and management program . experiments for management of thermonuclear bombs are performed with nif system as well as for energy generation . if i remember correctly , most of the budgets for nif are still military budgets .
mast upgrade : the final push almost a month into 2016 , and the mast upgrade project is approaching the finishing straight at culham .
prior to founding chrysalix evc , wal spent six years as the vice president of strategic planning at westcoast energy , and also advised energy , chemicals and financial services blue chip companies on innovation and change management while working for more than seven years with mckinsey & company .
the fusion community hopes their luck could change when the multi - bn - euro iter fusion experiment comes online in cadarache , in the south of france , in the 2020s . and officials from jet , based at culham , oxfordshire , are now in the process of signing a contract that will keep the facility running for another five years .
professor jarboe’s current research interests lie in plasma physics and controlled fusion . he is presently pursuing three plasma research interests . first , he is director of the plasma science and innovation center ( psi - center ) . the goal of the center is to develop computational predictability for improved magnetic confinement configurations with controlled fusion applications . the psi - center plays an important role in making fusion energy practical and in advancing plasma science in general . second , he leads the helicity injected torus ( hit ) program on campus . this method allows steady state operation . developing an efficient current drive method for a spheromak that is compatible with good confinement would be a major advance for practical fusion energy .
the materials research facility is built to test irradiated materials for both the fusion and fission materials development programmes and will be used . . .
jet is a prized facility at the centre of the uk’s global leadership in nuclear fusion research , which is why the government is taking every possible step to secure its future and to maintain highly - skilled jobs in the uk .
the culham centre’s current chief executive , ian chapman , told nature that — after meeting with government officials — he is sure that the united kingdom has no intention of drawing back from nuclear research and development or civil nuclear programmes . “there’s no indication that this means we’re stopping our nuclear programme , far from it , ” says chapman , who is also chief executive of the uk atomic energy authority .
ccfe engineers last week took delivery of one of the key components for the mast upgrade tokamak . the centre rod is an integral part of forming the device’s ‘toroidal’ magnetic field which confines the hot plasma in its compact ‘cored apple’ shape .
recipe for success take one stainless steel tokamak component , bake in the oven for seven hours at 980 degrees c till it ' s just right…et voilà – it ' s ready to go into the fusion device .
lift - off for mast upgrade it ' s all systems go for the upgrade of the uk ' s fusion experiment mast after a nail - biting operation to move the entire machine was completed just before christmas .
fusion is markedly different from current nuclear power , which operates through splitting atoms - fission - rather than squashing them together as occurs in fusion .
mast upgrade : fitting the last piece of the puzzle on 7 march , the finishing straight got one ( major ) step closer for the new mast upgrade tokamak , with the lifting and positioning of the centre column into the heart of the machine .
for uk schools we run a series of visit days aimed at a - level physics or equivalent students to come and learn about nuclear fusion and the research happening at culham . these visits consist of an introductory talk followed by a tour of our jet facility and last around 2 . 5 hours .
instrumental in the creation of the united states advanced battery consortium , which he co - founded with the department of energy , mr . runkle has received numerous awards for his work including the asm medal for the advancement of research and the wu manufacturing leadership award .
jet ( joint european torus ) was the prototype for iter and over its extended lifetime will effectively carry out a dress rehearsal for that much bigger reactor , which will aim to demonstrate the scientific viability of fusion power at scale .
mast upgrade provides a uniquely flexible test bed for plasma exhaust physics in all divertor configurations . this extra funding will enhance our capabilities even further , enabling mast upgrade to assess alternative divertors for use in the first fusion power plants .
with funding from epsrc , adriana ( advanced digital radiometric instrumentation for applied nuclear activities ) is providing instruments for use by industrial and university researchers at culham and at partners the universities of lancaster and liverpool . culham has four state - of - the - art high resolution gamma spectrometry systems with digital signal processing and analysis software . the adriana equipment can be used to support power stations , nuclear security applications and decommissioning operations , as well as research projects .
it ' s a concern not only for the european people here but also for the english people because it puts the whole institute at risk .
researchers at culham are developing a type of fusion reactor known as a ‘tokamak’ – a magnetic chamber in which plasma is heated and controlled . the research is focused on preparing for the international tokamak experiment iter , now being built in southern france . iter – due to start up in 2025 – is designed to show that fusion can work at the scale of a powerplant , and if successful should lead to electricity from fusion being on the grid by 2050 .
operating jet , europe ' s flagship experiment . jet is situated at ccfe next to the uk ' s fusion laboratory . ccfe hosts the jet facility on behalf of fusion researchers around europe via a contract between the european commission and the united kingdom atomic energy authority .
in 1997 , jet set the world record for producing the largest amount of power ( 16mw ) from fusion using deuterium - tritium ( d - t ) , the fuel proposed for the first generation of fusion power plants . after a period of upgrades , the project is preparing an attempt at breaking that record .
to make fusion energy commercially viable , future fusion reactors will need to produce a positive balance of energy , to harness plasmas for several hours , avoid too expensive materials and , last but not least , find materials that are capable to withstand the enormous heat loads and neutron fluxes that are expected in a fusion power plant ( some factors higher than in iter ) . the objective of the iter project is to gain the knowledge necessary for the design of the next - stage device : a demonstration fusion power plant . in iter , scientists will study plasmas under conditions similar to those expected in a future power plant . iter will be the first fusion experiment to produce net power ; it will also test key technologies , including heating , control , diagnostics , and remote maintenance .
two european projects are hoping to pave the way for commercially viable power generation using nuclear fusion – a breakthrough that could make a massive contribution to our energy and climate change worries . we put your questions to the scientists and engineers working on these ambitious and fascinating schemes .
despite its history spanning some five decades , scientists hoping to harness fusion have faced many hurdles . but it remains an attractive prospect because it can yield a near limitless supply of clean energy .
thank you to all readers of the engineer who sent in questions for the teams at iter – the project to demonstrate the feasibility of magnetic - confinement nuclear fusion that is currently under construction in cadarache , france – and its predecessor and pilot project , the joint european torus ( jet ) at culham in oxfordshire .
several readers have questioned the value of committing such large amounts of money to a project that has already taken many years and isn’t likely to produce a commercial solution to our energy needs for decades to come ( if at all ) . what would you say to them to persuade them that fusion is a worthwhile investment , particularly over other already - proven alternative energy technologies such as renewables ?