Building the UK’s Fusion AI Supercomputer

• Sunrise will bring dedicated AI computing power to fusion research, giving UK scientists a purpose-built platform for some of the most complex challenges in modern science.
• Dell Technologies contributed advanced infrastructure for Sunrise, supporting AI-accelerated modelling for fusion research.
• Beyond fusion, the project is expected to support the UK’s broader ambitions in AI, advanced computing and scientific innovation.

Fusion energy stands as one of the ultimate frontiers of modern technology. Replicating the power of the stars right here on Earth requires overcoming monumental engineering and computational hurdles. To cross this frontier, scientists need more than just physical laboratories; they need unprecedented computational power.

The UK government recently announced a £45 million investment to build ‘Sunrise‘, a 1.4MW mission-focused supercomputer funded by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) as part of the UK’s first AI Growth Zone. Located in the Oxbridge innovation corridor, Sunrise is targeted for operation in June 2026 and will be the world’s most powerful artificial intelligence (AI) supercomputer dedicated specifically to fusion energy.

Dell Technologies designed and delivered the advanced compute infrastructure that underpins Sunrise, helping the UK tackle some of the most complex physics challenges in modern science.

The technological frontier of fusion

When we talk about fusion, we are talking about extreme environments. To create fusion, a mixture of hydrogen isotopes must be heated to form a controlled plasma at temperatures ten times hotter than the core of the Sun. Containing this plasma using massive magnetic fields requires precision engineering and real-time data analysis on an unfathomable scale.

While fusion holds immense potential as a sustainable energy source for the future, the immediate challenge is one of pure technological capability.

Engineering for extreme scale and speed

Building a supercomputer capable of handling the demands of fusion research requires more than raw processing power. It requires a system architecture that can handle massive datasets without creating bottlenecks, operate within strict power parameters, and deliver consistent performance under continuous load.

Dell worked closely with AMD, Intel, WEKA, the University of Cambridge, and the UK Atomic Energy Authority, the UK’s national fusion laboratory, to bring the Sunrise vision to life. The challenge was to deliver 6.76 Exaflops of AI-accelerated modelling within a 1.4MW power envelope — maximising computational output while maintaining efficiency.

The solution required tight integration of cutting-edge processing power with rapid data storage and retrieval systems. Dell supplied dense, AI-optimised server configurations specifically designed for high-fidelity simulations that run continuously. The infrastructure handles the extreme variables of plasma physics by processing data instantly and accurately, ensuring researchers can work without system limitations slowing discovery.

From theory to reality

What will scientists actually do with 6.76 Exaflops of computing power? Sunrise will address real-world challenges across several key UK fusion programmes, translating complex theories into practical solutions.

Scientists will create highly detailed digital twins of fusion machines to test how materials and magnetic fields behave under extreme stress. These virtual replicas will allow engineers to refine designs without the cost, risk, and time of physical testing. Sunrise will also enable researchers to run complex AI models that predict chaotic plasma behaviour with incredible precision so that engineers can design more effective magnetic fields to keep the plasma stable — a critical step toward achieving net positive energy.

The supercomputer will directly support the UK’s most important fusion initiatives, including the Lithium Breeding Tritium Innovation (LIBRTI) programme to help future plants create their own fuel, and the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) initiative, informing the blueprints for the UK’s first prototype fusion power plant.

Beyond fusion

The impact of the Sunrise project extends well beyond fusion energy research. The AI Growth Zone creates a hub for talent, research, and high-tech manufacturing that will strengthen the UK’s position in advanced computing. The AI-accelerated modelling techniques pioneered here will eventually benefit other complex scientific fields, from climate modelling to advanced materials science.

To learn more about how Dell is powering the future of high-performance computing and AI-accelerated research, explore our latest infrastructure solutions and technical resources.