Nuclear fusion: how close is it to becoming a reality?

Recent milestones in China and Canada and growing private investment have advanced fusion research, but commercial reactors are not yet available.

Nuclear fusion is receiving renewed attention after recent milestones in China and Canada and growing private-sector investment. Fusion combines light atomic nuclei to release large amounts of energy and uses hydrogen fuel that is widely available in water. Researchers say the science has advanced, but no commercial fusion power plants exist yet and key technical and engineering challenges remain. Current developments: - The Chinese Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) reported keeping plasma stable at densities beyond a previous limit, which researchers say may enable smaller commercial designs. - General Fusion announced a record in neutron production for its technology, though experts note that the record applies to that approach and some government-funded reactors have produced larger fusion outputs. - A new Centre for Fusion Energy in Ontario was announced with funding reported as $33 million from the federal government and Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., $19.5 million from the Ontario government and Ontario Power Generation, and $39 million from fusion startup Stellarex Group Ltd. - The article says the number of private fusion companies has grown to 53 and that more than US$10 billion has been invested in private fusion startups, with investors including Microsoft, Google, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Chevron. - Technical hurdles remain: achieving a sustained, high energy-gain reaction; protecting reactor components from extreme heat and radiation that limit current operating lifetimes; and establishing a self-sustaining tritium breeding system. Canada currently supplies much of the world's commercial tritium via CANDU reactors and provides tritium-related support to international projects. Summary: If achieved at scale, fusion could provide continuous low-carbon electricity, and recent technical results and private investment have increased momentum. Large international projects such as ITER aim to demonstrate higher energy gain and target operation in the late 2030s, while private firms pursue smaller, alternative designs and supply-chain planning. Significant engineering, materials and fuel-breeding challenges remain, and the timeline to commercial power is undetermined at this time.