Recent Breakthroughs: The U.S. National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has achieved “ignition” repeatedly, which means they have managed to produce more energy from a fusion reaction than was used to initiate it. This is a significant milestone in demonstrating the feasibility of fusion as a practical energy source. The facility aims to continue refining this process to achieve more consistent and scalable results (Nature
European Advancements: The EU-Japan collaboration on the JT-60SA reactor has made substantial progress, with plans to enhance its capabilities further. This reactor is part of a broader effort to develop fusion energy in Europe, building on the success of previous projects like the Joint European Torus (JET), which has already set records for energy production from fusion reactions. According to European Commissioner Iliana Ivanova, collaboration between private and public sectors is crucial to accelerating the transition from experimental setups to commercial fusion plants Physorg
Nuclear fusion, often considered the ultimate goal in the quest for clean energy, is edging closer to reality. With the world facing significant challenges around climate change and energy security, recent advancements in fusion technology are generating renewed excitement and optimism.
In June 2024, a major milestone was achieved when Energy Singularity, a Chinese company, unveiled the world’s first high-temperature superconducting tokamak reactor, named HH70, in Shanghai. This reactor is groundbreaking due to its compact design, which is potentially more cost-effective and efficient, operating at just two percent of the volume of traditional fusion reactors.
Nuclear fusion breakthrough: Is the world on the brink of limitless clean energy?https://t.co/LOAV8ESiRa
— Interesting Engineering (@IntEngineering) August 26, 2024
This announcement is part of a series of breakthroughs revitalizing the fusion energy field. In December 2022, the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the United States surpassed the ignition threshold, producing more energy output than the input required to sustain the fusion reaction. This success was further improved, reaching an output of 3.88 megajoules from a 2.05 megajoules input.
The race to harness fusion energy is not confined to the US and China. The UK’s Joint European Torus (JET) facility set a new record earlier this year by generating 69 megajoules of energy in just five seconds, using a minimal amount of fuel. Japan’s JT-60SA, the world’s largest fusion reactor, achieved its first plasma in November 2023 after 15 years of development. Meanwhile, China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) reactor, known as the ‘artificial sun,’ has been operational since 2006 and recently sustained fusion conditions for over 400 seconds.
Industry Expectations: Helion Energy, a U.S.-based company, is aiming to become the first to produce electricity from fusion by mid-2024. The company’s CEO, David Kirtley, mentioned that they are “on track to have [their fusion generator] Polaris built by mid-2024.” Helion’s technology focuses on achieving a “net electricity” target, where the energy produced by the fusion process exceeds the energy required to sustain it. This milestone could potentially position Helion as a leader in the fusion energy sector S&P Global
One of the most ambitious efforts in the field is the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in France, a collaboration among 35 countries. Once completed, ITER aims to become the largest fusion reactor ever built, with a goal to produce 500 megawatts of heat from a 50-megawatt input. Despite delays, ITER represents a significant step forward, targeting its first plasma generation in 2035.
The advantages of fusion energy are profound. Unlike nuclear fission, fusion does not produce long-lived radioactive waste, instead creating inert helium gas. It’s highly efficient—just 1 kilogram of fusion fuel could generate as much energy as 10 million kilograms of fossil fuel, all without emitting carbon dioxide. Fusion fuel is derived from water and lithium, making it both abundant and secure for the foreseeable future.
Moreover, fusion energy is inherently safe. The process requires extreme conditions to initiate and maintain, making uncontrolled reactions or meltdowns almost impossible. This contrasts sharply with fission reactors, where such risks are a major concern.
However, the path to practical fusion energy is fraught with challenges. The Earth-based conditions required for fusion differ significantly from those in the sun. Terrestrial reactors use heavier isotopes of hydrogen, which create neutron radiation necessitating heavy shielding and potentially causing some materials to become radioactive. Furthermore, maintaining the conditions needed for fusion, such as extremely high temperatures, requires substantial energy input, reducing the overall efficiency.
The decommissioning of the JET reactor in the UK, which will cost around $300 million and generate a large amount of radioactive waste, highlights the complexities and costs associated with fusion technology. For fusion to become a viable commercial energy source, it must achieve a Q value of 25, indicating that the energy output is 25 times the energy input—a goal that remains distant.
Has quantum computing been overhyped? Much like AI or nuclear fusion, this revolutionary technology always seems to be just beyond our reach. But there a good reasons to get excited about it, says Jonathan Joneshttps://t.co/6hRWs91hWl
— spiked (@spikedonline) August 26, 2024
Despite these obstacles, there is growing optimism due to recent rapid advancements. Critics argue that investments in fusion could be better allocated to improving existing renewable technologies like wind and solar. Yet, supporters counter that sustained investment in fusion, much like that which advanced wind and solar power, could ultimately yield significant rewards.
As the world strives to decarbonize and secure sustainable energy, nuclear fusion presents a compelling possibility. While it may not be ready to power our grids immediately, the progress seen in recent years suggests that fusion energy could become a reality sooner than anticipated. Continued investment and international collaboration will be key in turning this dream of limitless, clean energy into a practical solution, potentially revolutionizing our approach to power generation and climate change mitigation.
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- Financial and Regulatory Developments: Private investment in fusion energy has surged, with over $6 billion invested to date. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is also drafting the first regulatory framework for fusion power plants, which indicates a move towards the practical implementation of fusion energy. The expectation is that fusion could become a commercial reality by the 2030s, providing a clean and virtually limitless source of energy S&P Global
- Long-Term Vision: Industry leaders and researchers emphasize that while the goal of commercial fusion energy is within reach, achieving this will require sustained collaboration across various sectors. Fusion energy is seen as a transformative technology that could provide a stable, zero-carbon power source, addressing both energy security and climate change challenges.
Key Points:
i. Nuclear fusion is moving closer to reality with significant breakthroughs, including China’s first high-temperature superconducting tokamak reactor.
ii. Major advancements have also been made in the US, UK, Japan, and through international collaboration with projects like ITER.
iii. Fusion offers numerous advantages over current energy sources, including no long-lived radioactive waste, high efficiency, and safety.
iv. Challenges remain, particularly in achieving energy efficiency and managing radioactive materials, but recent progress has spurred optimism.
v. Continued investment and innovation in fusion technology could revolutionize clean energy, playing a crucial role in future energy security and climate change efforts.
TL Holcomb – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
