What is fusion energy?
Fusion Energy is basically replicating the energy conversion methods of the sun. This is done by forcing atoms together, for example by merging two small atoms into one bigger atom. This creates vast amounts of power as well as heat. How hot is it?
Hundreds of millions of degrees. In fact,
figuring out how to contain this heat is one of the largest stepping stones to making this technology a reality and now that project leaders at MIT and Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) have achieved this milestone, a future without the need for carbon-based energy production is a feasible reality.
figuring out how to contain this heat is one of the largest stepping stones to making this technology a reality and now that project leaders at MIT and Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) have achieved this milestone, a future without the need for carbon-based energy production is a feasible reality.
How was this milestone achieved?
The project leaders at MIT and Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) have recently achieved this milestone by using what´s known as high-temperature superconductor material. This new material can generate a far more powerful magnetic field relative to its size than its older counterparts, copper and low-temperature superconductor material. This difference in size to power ratio is what is important here as the magnetic field generated is what will be used to contain the immense heat generated by a nuclear fusion reaction.
The new high-temperature superconductor material, made in the form of a flat, ribbon-like tape, can generate a magnetic force as powerful as an apparatus 40 times its size. Discovered in 2015 the material has recently been proven via simulation by the MIT and CFS partnership as a viable method for harnessing the power of nuclear fusion.
Is fusion energy the key to UK’s green transformation
It certainly seems that way to the British government who are backing plans for the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) and a final decision on its location is expected to be made by 2022.
The UK government has been looking into more sustainable and green energy sources as well as how to gain more energy independence from other nations for many years now. This has been partially achieved with varying success in previous years. However, this new scientific development could be the catalyst needed to achieve the goal of carbon-free energy production and decreased dependency on other nations.
The current energy market crisis shows that the UK is dependent on external sources of energy, which also plays a role in the energy prices around the country. The crisis further highlighted the need for more renewable energy produced inside the UK, which will help the country to be less reliant on fossil fuels.
What are the government's plans?
According to the government, they expect the full design to be completed by 2024 which gives them a realistic possibility of having a fully operational nuclear fusion plant completed by 2040. Other officials and experts involved have stated that 2044 is the target date for completion.
The government has already pledged a whopping £222 million for the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production programme and has invested a further £184 million in new fusion facilities at Culham Science Centre near Oxford and at Rotherham.
Andrea Leadsom, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said: “This is a bold and ambitious investment in the energy technology of the future. Fusion has the potential to be an unlimited clean, safe and carbon-free energy source and we want the first commercially viable machine to be in the U.K.”
“This long-term investment will build on the UK’s scientific leadership, driving advancements in materials science, plasma physics and robotics to support new hi-tech jobs and exports.”
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