How close are we to Fusion Energy?
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In his 1958 book Physics and Philosophy: The Revolution in Modern Science, Werner Heisenberg wrote that "when one speaks today of modern physics, the first thought is atomic weapons." Heisenberg, one of the greatest atomic theorists, witnessed his field transform from a purely academic, noble pursuit into a devastating force that killed thousands. Today, nuclear fission, the science behind atomic weapons, continues to be harnessed for its highly efficient energy production, though it comes with the major disadvantage of leaving behind tonnes of hazardous radioactive waste.
Nuclear fusion involves the combining of atomic nuclei, as opposed to splitting them up. It’s the same process that has allowed the Sun to shine for so long: clean, sustainable, and always available with an (almost) unlimited fuel source. Since the start of this century, significant strides have been made to deliver fusion energy to the grid and solve the problem of attaining affordable, clean energy - starting with ITER, the largest international nuclear fusion megaproject in the south of France.
ITER, which stands for International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, makes use of extremely strong magnetic fields to confine a plasma in a doughnut shape inside a device known as a tokamak. The plasma is nothing more than just hydrogen gas that has been heated to temperatures above 150 million degrees Celsius, replicating the conditions inside our own Sun. This extraordinary feat comes with a large price tag, leading to years of delays and funding issues that have pushed back hopes of achieving practical fusion energy to as late as the 2050s.
In contrast, the private sector has high ambitions of producing the first electricity from fusion power plants by the mid 2030s. Due to high market demand and a solid understanding of the science, companies are now competing to develop the most innovative engineering solutions. These private ventures are advancing quickly, exploring various approaches to overcome the remaining technical challenges. Ultimately, both the likes of ITER and the private sector are important in advancing fusion energy; together, they will surely reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Perhaps in 2058, when one speaks of modern physics, it will surely be about fusion energy.