Breakthroughs bring the world closer to nuclear fusion

Subject

The outlook for the development of nuclear fusion as an energy source.

Significance

The last two years have seen several projects reporting 'significant' progress towards the goal of developing nuclear fusion energy. This form of energy replicates the processes that drive the sun and is considered the ideal form of energy generation -- safe, clean, resource-efficient and effectively 'unlimited'.

Impacts

• The France-based INTER project will not be ready until 2025, even assuming funds continue to flow at the required rate.
• Funding in China looks solid; China may decide to increase it to move to a more advanced experimental reactor.
• Germany's stellarator design offers an alternative technological path.