‘This is a really exciting time’

The world may be close to developing a working method for generating fusion energy, according to Power Magazine.

Fusion energy is the same type that powers the sun. And as the International Atomic Energy Agency explains, nuclear fusion occurs when two light atoms combine to form a heavier atom, releasing a lot of energy.

If we could harness this reaction, we might be able to generate more of the energy we need while moving away from less sustainable sources. But obstacles stand in the way of the smooth development of fusion. For example, even the smallest blast of air can stop a fusion reaction, as experts noted in Power Magazine.

Today, Commonwealth Fusion Systems in Massachusetts says it is creating a container to maintain a completely airtight fusion reaction. The company called this a “vacuum vessel,” calling the 48-ton steel container “instrumental,” as CFS works toward “large-scale commercial fusion energy.” By the end of October, the first half of the ship had been delivered.

“This is a really exciting time,” said Brandon Sorbom, CFS co-founder and chief scientific officer, in a press release. “It’s a big moment for us because we have some big hardware coming out, but it’s also a really big moment for the industry.”

Although the development of fusion energy is an exciting prospect for many, researchers have not yet solved all the problems. There are still major hurdles to overcome to maintain and contain a fusion reaction that produces more energy than it consumes – and doing so in a cost-effective manner.

Nuclear fusion could one day create enormous amounts of electricity without carbon pollution, without the dangerous and long-lasting radioactive waste of today’s nuclear fission reactors. But the technology to create a commercially viable fusion plant does not yet exist.

However, if developers can effectively address these concerns, we could ultimately see a more diverse and resilient energy mix, with the potential to reduce utility bills and mitigate heat-trapping pollution that impacts air quality and drives rising global temperatures.

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