Stop us if you've heard this before: fusion is the future
Is the new burst of enthusiasm for nuclear fusion justified this time?
Long-time followers of all things energy are well familiar with the cycle of hope followed by disappointment that has dogged fusion research for decades. A New Scientist article on the latest developments includes the well-worn joke “that fusion has always been 30 years away, and always will be.”
Researchers and investors are, nonetheless, enthusiastic.
Their attitude is the result of technology breakthroughs in several research facilities around the world. These are incremental gains; commercial application lies on the other side of formidable hurdles.
As always, the allure of fusion is hard to resist. An industry survey estimates research more than doubled between 2021 and 2022.
Nuclear fusion involves the merging of atoms to form one larger atom, releasing energy in the process. Helium emissions are emitted during the reaction. While there is some radioactive waste produced, it is not of the severity of the highly radioactive nuclear waste produced during the fission process used in U.S. commercial power plants.
Climate Home News: Nuclear fusion: Why Silicon Valley is betting on man-made star power
New Scientist: Can a slew of nuclear fusion start-ups deliver unlimited clean energy? (Subscription required.)
International Atomic Energy Agency: What is nuclear fusion?