Fusion: The Future Of Unlimited Energy?
How fusion could be the catalyst for a clean industrial revolution
To reach global net zero targets, eyes are on the energy industry to develop and market a sustainable way of producing and distributing low carbon electricity. As the world’s population grows, and our reliance on technology and data increases, this has become one of the biggest climate challenges humanity faces. But there is a solution that’s being cultivated right now; and that solution is fusion.
Once considered the energy of the future, fusion harnesses the power of the stars to create the ultimate energy source. As Sir Ian Chapman, UK Atomic Energy Authority says, “Fusion could completely revolutionise the whole energy market. It’s inherently safe, it’s sustainable, it’s equitable and it could work in all jurisdictions in every country in the world.”
Replicating this cosmic process is no mean feat. The science behind fusion and the technologies required to develop it are moving beyond research to implementation. But creating a commercial product is complex. To produce a fusion reaction, small amounts of dual fuels – deuterium, extracted from seawater, and tritium – are heated to create a plasma at temperatures hotter than the sun.
Advanced machines such as a spherical tokamak use powerful magnets to compress, shape and hold the plasma allowing it to be heated to a staggering 100 million degrees Celsius, the threshold temperature for fusion. This world-first was achieved by Tokamak Energy’s ST40 fusion device.
There is some scepticism, but Chris Mowry, Type One Energy, USA is keen to bust the fusion myths. He explains, “The fusion process is completely clean, it emits no carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases and there’s no long-term nuclear waste.”
As technology advances, the race to bring fusion to market is quickly gathering pace. AI, 3D printing, advanced manufacturing and high temperature super conducting magnets are improving the design of machines and control of the fusion process. “Now we’re starting to apply these industrial capabilities to the commercialisation of fusion,” says Chris.
The goal now is to build a fusion energy sector and to drive mass production. How long will this take? Sehila Gonzalez de Vicente, Global Director of Fusion Energy at Clean Air Task Force explains that we’re likely to see construction of pilot fusion plants towards the end of this decade and commercial plants opening in the 2030s.
As Sehila says, “It’s no longer the energy of the future; it’s happening now.”
With thanks to the following contributors:
Chris Mowry from Type One Energy (Chair of the Sustainable Markets Initiative's Fusion Task Force)
Sir Ian Chapman from UK Atomic Energy Authority
Warrick Matthews from Tokamak Energy
Sehila Gonzalez de Vicente from Clean Air Task Force
