# Fusion Power: A Promising Future for Energy Generation
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Chapter 1: Understanding Thermonuclear Fusion
Recent breakthroughs in thermonuclear technology are sparking optimism for the future of energy. The JET (Joint European Torus) reactor recently achieved an impressive output of 69 megajoules from merely 0.2 milligrams of fuel. Experts believe that if developments continue positively, fusion reactors could become a source of affordable and safe energy.
This remarkable milestone was reached during experiments at JET, situated near Oxford, UK, recognized as one of the largest and most powerful thermonuclear facilities globally.
What is Thermonuclear Fusion?
Thermonuclear energy is generated through the fusion of light atomic nuclei. This natural process occurs in stars, where extreme pressure forces atoms together. On Earth, isotopes of hydrogen, specifically deuterium and tritium, can be utilized for fusion. Deuterium, containing one proton and one neutron, is readily available in water, while tritium, with one proton and two neutrons, is not found naturally but can be derived from lithium. The combination of these isotopes not only produces significant energy but also raises radiation levels within the reactor.
JET operates as a tokamak—a doughnut-shaped chamber where a magnetic field confines heated plasma. To initiate thermonuclear reactions, the plasma must achieve temperatures around 100 million degrees Celsius. In a landmark event in 2021, JET successfully generated thermonuclear energy using tritium for the first time, serving as a precursor to the larger ITER installation.
After four decades of operation, JET was decommissioned in autumn 2023, but not before setting a record.
Chapter 2: Achievements of JET and the Future of Fusion
In its final tests, JET utilized a combination of deuterium and tritium, sustaining a thermonuclear reaction for five seconds and achieving the record energy output of 69 megajoules from just 0.2 milligrams of fuel.
> "During these studies, we showcased methods to stabilize plasma and protect the reactor walls," stated Dr. Emmanuel Joffrin, a key researcher in the project. "For the first time, we tested the fusion of deuterium and tritium successfully."
Over 300 scientists and engineers from EUROfusion, a European consortium, collaborated on this research. The dismantling of JET is set to take place over the next 15 years, with some components repurposed for other projects.
Is Fusion Power Finally Within Reach?
When considering efficiency, burning just one gram of hydrogen in a thermonuclear reactor can yield energy equivalent to 8 tons of crude oil or 11 tons of coal. To satisfy global energy needs, only a few hundred kilograms of hydrogen isotopes, sourced from seawater, would suffice annually.
Thermonuclear power plants are anticipated to offer greater safety compared to traditional nuclear plants, along with producing significantly less radioactive waste. However, advancements are still necessary to ensure that the energy output from these reactions exceeds the energy input required to initiate them. In JET's case, three times more energy was consumed than produced, indicating no surplus.
The findings from JET will inform the construction of ITER, a massive reactor being built in France with funding from the EU, China, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the USA, at a cost of $22 billion. The first operation of ITER is scheduled for after 2025, with plans for it to operate on a deuterium and tritium mixture by 2035. If successful, it will mark the first fusion installation capable of generating surplus energy.
Other fusion projects, like the British prototype power plant STEP and the European demonstrational facility DEMO, will also leverage insights gained from JET. These reactors are expected to begin operations after 2040, leaving the energy transition reliant on renewable sources and existing nuclear facilities in the meantime.
Chapter 3: Exploring Alternative Fusion Technologies
While tokamaks are a prominent focus for achieving thermonuclear fusion, researchers are exploring alternative methods. One such reactor is the stellarator, characterized by a complex, twisted chamber design that aids in plasma control through magnetic fields. The Wendelstein 7-X stellarator in Germany operates at a fraction of ITER's cost, approximately €2 billion.
Another approach is being tested at the American National Ignition Facility (NIF), part of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where lasers are employed to compress and heat hydrogen isotopes. Notably, in 2022, NIF produced surplus energy for the first time, reinforcing the potential of various fusion technologies.
Dr. Athina Kappatou from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics emphasized the collaborative nature of these studies, stating, "These projects enrich our understanding of plasma and thermonuclear reactions."
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