Concept design overview: a question of choices and compromise

The Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme hypothesizes that a compact machine offers a route to reduced capital cost that directly tackles the barrier to entry of this potentially transformative technology. History has shown that with an unsolved, complex and highly interdependent design challenge, there is a need to balance exploration of the problem with progress. Almost all complex systems arise from the evolutionary improvement of simpler systems which is an approach the programme has adopted by working through a virtual natural selection of design families towards a single concept consistent with the initiating hypothesis. Issues are uncovered and solved more rapidly this way because the effort is focused on an end. In this current phase, STEP has had to be an agile fast-moving programme to work with what emerges as well as what was planned, to sit with uncertainty and to embrace self-organizing principles. The complex decision-making and compromises in emerging trades have led to a concept respectful of the tight aspect ratio hypothesis which carefully balances cost, performance and deliverability. It remains a high-risk and high-reward programme, but the character of the challenge is better understood building confidence and enhancing capability to advance the evolving design further. This article is part of the theme issue 'Delivering Fusion Energy - The Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP)'.