A fusion energy experimental facility which closed at the end of 2023 has been celebrated at an event which took place on Wednesday.

The celebration day at the Culham campus reverberated with cheers as the inventor of the Joint European Torus (JET) received a standing ovation.

The event celebrated JET's contribution to fusion energy research alongside its staff and collaborators.

Paul Henri-Rebut, JET's inventor and designer was applauded for his contributions to fusion energy.

Professor Sir Ian Chapman, CEO of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority said: "We celebrated the achievements, and even more importantly, celebrated the people."

Attendees, including dignitaries, scientists and engineers who worked with JET, listened to speeches delivered by people including the UK’s minister for nuclear and renewables, Andrew Bowie MP, and the European Commission’s head of unit, Euratom, Dr Elena Righi.

Attendees enjoyed a trip down memory lane with a photography exhibition, theatre shows, and guided tours of the facility's key areas.

Mr Henri-Rebut, in his unscheduled speech, said: "Thank you to a lot of you to show what we can do with such a machine like JET."

JET, operational until the end of December 2023, has been a significant instrument in advancing fusion energy for more than 40 years.

It has allowed advancements in fusion's physics and engineering, leaving a huge legacy in fusion technology's evolution.