Nuclear fusion as hope for energy transition

Science Researchers achieve energy record with nuclear fusion

2024-02-09 Source: Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics | Translated by AI 1 min Reading Time

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Great hope is placed in nuclear fusion for the energy transition. However, despite the record, scientists were unable to achieve a positive energy balance.

The interior of the JET fusion reactor.(Image: UKAEA) — The interior of the JET fusion reactor.
(Image: UKAEA)

A European research team has set an energy record with a fusion experiment. According to a statement from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP), 69 megajoules of energy were generated from 0.2 milligrams of fuel at the Joint European Torus (JET) in the United Kingdom. The plasma discharge lasted 5.2 seconds. For the same amount of energy, approximately 2 kilograms of lignite coal would have been needed – about ten million times as much. The previous record was 59 megajoules in 5 seconds.

Fusion power plants aim to fuse light atomic nuclei, following the model of the sun, to harness tremendous amounts of energy from very small amounts of fuel for humanity, according to the researchers. The research group "Eurofusion" is pursuing the concept of magnetic fusion.

Despite the record, a positive energy balance could not be achieved. Thus, more heating energy had to be invested into the plasma than was generated in fusion energy. According to the researchers, this is not possible at JET, as the fusion facility is too small. Scientists are therefore placing great hopes on the international fusion facility ITER, currently under construction in southern France. This facility is expected to exceed the critical size.

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