In December 2022, a major breakthrough occurred in nuclear fusion technology. For the first time ever, a nuclear fusion reaction exhibited a net energy gain, meaning it produced more energy than what was inputted.
On July 30, 2023, the National Ignition Facility repeated this feat and managed to produce an even higher energy yield than the previous year. This significant achievement was by the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the US.
Despite the U.S. government’s relatively low funding for nuclear fusion research, averaging around half-a-billion dollars per year for all projects, these breakthroughs have significantly advanced the field.
The recent successes have paved the way for the development of nuclear fusion as a key player in a clean, carbon-neutral energy economy.
Ultimate Goal Of The Fusion Ignition Breakthrough
The ultimate goal of the latest Fusion Ignition Breakthrough is to successfully generate nuclear fusion reactions in a controlled, repeatable manner, rather than the destructive “all at once” energy release seen in hydrogen bombs.
This controlled fusion energy should be emitted in small, manageable doses, or in bursts, to allow for its use in traditional energy production methods like boiling water, turning turbines, or performing mechanical work.
A crucial aspect of this goal involves overcoming numerous engineering and efficiency challenges:
- Maximising the net energy gain from the fusion reactions.
- Minimising the energy required to initiate the fusion reactions.
- Generating the needed energy on-demand.
- Safely transporting fusion-generated energy over long distances.
- Successfully maintaining the equipment used for generating these reactions.
- Absorbing stray neutrons emitted in the fusion process and preventing any resulting radioactive materials from contaminating our environment.
The culmination of these objectives is to achieve the breakeven point, where more energy is generated from fusion reactions than is required to initiate them, paving the way for a new era of sustainable and clean energy.
How Nuclear Fusion Is Different From Fission
Nuclear fusion is the process of colliding light elements, like hydrogen, to create heavier elements, while simultaneously releasing a tremendous amount of energy. This phenomenon is a remarkable display of scientific power and holds immense potential for various applications.
The approach, which gives rise to the heat and light of the sun and other stars, has been hailed as having huge potential as a sustainable, low-carbon energy source.
Nuclear power plants today use a process called fission, where atoms are broken apart to release energy and smaller particles. On the other hand, fusion works the opposite way. It combines smaller particles into larger atoms, similar to what happens in the sun.
Although nuclear power generates abundant clean energy, it has consistently raised safety concerns. However, it is now receiving renewed attention as part of the international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming.
Fusion could create more energy and doesn’t produce any radioactive waste. However, there’s been a big challenge in being able to control and contain this reaction, which is something both physicists and engineers are trying to figure out.
Fusion energy holds the promise of abundant clean power, with reactions that produce no greenhouse gases or radioactive waste. A mere kilogram of fusion fuel, consisting of deuterium and tritium, heavy forms of hydrogen, yields as much energy as 10 million kilograms of fossil fuel. However, achieving this milestone has been a 70-year endeavour.
While researchers have previously achieved fusion reactions, the energy input required exceeded the energy output. However, what sets apart the recent two experiments is their ability to generate more energy than they consume in initiating the reaction. This newfound efficiency represents the long-sought holy grail of fusion research, marking a significant breakthrough in the field.