U.S. to announce fusion energy ‘breakthrough’

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Still many years away but it's great to see progress being made

U.S. to announce fusion energy ‘breakthrough’
Scientists hit a key milestone in the quest to create abundant zero-carbon power through nuclear fusion. But they still have a long way to go.

By Evan Halper and Pranshu Verma

The Department of Energy plans to announce Tuesday that scientists have been able for the first time to produce a fusion reaction that creates a net energy gain — a major milestone in the decades-long, multibillion-dollar quest to develop a technology that provides unlimited, cheap, clean power.

The aim of fusion research is to replicate the nuclear reaction through which energy is created on the sun. It is a “holy grail” of carbon-free power that scientists have been chasing since the 1950s. It is still at least a decade — maybe decades — away from commercial use, but the latest development is likely to be touted by the Biden administration as an affirmation of a massive investment by the government over the years.

Huge amounts of public and private funds have been funneled into the fusion race worldwide, with the aim of ultimately manufacturing fusion machinery that could bring electricity to the grid with no carbon footprint, no radioactive waste and far fewer resources than it takes to harness solar and wind power. Beyond the climate benefits, promoters say it could help bring cheap electricity to impoverished parts of the world.

“To most of us, this was only a matter of time,” said a senior fusion scientist familiar with the work of the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, where the discovery was made.

The development was first reported by the Financial Times on Sunday. It was confirmed by two people familiar with the research, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid getting ahead of the official announcement. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm was slated to make the announcement Tuesday at a media event billed as the unveiling of “a major scientific breakthrough.”

The department and the lab declined to comment. A lab official said researchers there are still finalizing their analysis and will not be releasing any official findings before Tuesday.

The science of nuclear fusion relies on smashing two atoms together at incredibly high speeds and transforming the energy from that reaction into electricity that can power homes and offices without emitting carbon into the air or dumping radioactive waste into the environment.

In the decades scientists have been experimenting with fusion reactions, they had not until now been able to create one that produces more energy than it consumes. While the achievement is significant, there are still monumental engineering and scientific challenges ahead.

Creating the net energy gain required engagement of one of the largest lasers in the world, and the resources needed to recreate the reaction on the scale required to make fusion practical for energy production are immense. More importantly, engineers have yet to develop machinery capable of affordably turning that reaction into electricity that can be practically deployed to the power grid.

Building devices that are large enough to create fusion power at scale, scientists say, would require materials that are extraordinarily difficult to produce. At the same time, the reaction creates neutrons that put a tremendous amount of stress on the equipment creating it, such that it can get destroyed in the process.

And then there is the question of whether the technology could be perfected in time to make a dent in climate change.

Even so, researchers and investors in fusion technology hailed the breakthrough as an important advancement.

“There is going to be great pride that this is something that happened in the United States,” said David Edelman, who leads policy and global affairs at TAE, a large private fusion energy company. “This is a very important milestone on the road toward fusion energy.”

It comes as the Biden administration is prioritizing fusion energy research in its climate and energy agenda. The projects are among the front of the line for the tens of billions of dollars in subsidies and grants authorized through the major climate package Biden signed over the summer, called the Inflation Reduction Act.

Over the past several decades, the United States, Russia and various European nations have allocated billions in government dollars trying to master the science, believing that if they could, it would be a boon for the world.


A target pellet inside a hohlraum capsule with laser beams entering through openings on either end, seen in an illustration. The beams compress and heat the target to the necessary conditions for nuclear fusion to occur. (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory/AP)

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Still many years away but it's great to see progress being made

U.S. to announce fusion energy ‘breakthrough’
Scientists hit a key milestone in the quest to create abundant zero-carbon power through nuclear fusion. But they still have a long way to go.

By Evan Halper and Pranshu Verma

The Department of Energy plans to announce Tuesday that scientists have been able for the first time to produce a fusion reaction that creates a net energy gain — a major milestone in the decades-long, multibillion-dollar quest to develop a technology that provides unlimited, cheap, clean power.

The aim of fusion research is to replicate the nuclear reaction through which energy is created on the sun. It is a “holy grail” of carbon-free power that scientists have been chasing since the 1950s. It is still at least a decade — maybe decades — away from commercial use, but the latest development is likely to be touted by the Biden administration as an affirmation of a massive investment by the government over the years.

Huge amounts of public and private funds have been funneled into the fusion race worldwide, with the aim of ultimately manufacturing fusion machinery that could bring electricity to the grid with no carbon footprint, no radioactive waste and far fewer resources than it takes to harness solar and wind power. Beyond the climate benefits, promoters say it could help bring cheap electricity to impoverished parts of the world.

“To most of us, this was only a matter of time,” said a senior fusion scientist familiar with the work of the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, where the discovery was made.

The development was first reported by the Financial Times on Sunday. It was confirmed by two people familiar with the research, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid getting ahead of the official announcement. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm was slated to make the announcement Tuesday at a media event billed as the unveiling of “a major scientific breakthrough.”

The department and the lab declined to comment. A lab official said researchers there are still finalizing their analysis and will not be releasing any official findings before Tuesday.

The science of nuclear fusion relies on smashing two atoms together at incredibly high speeds and transforming the energy from that reaction into electricity that can power homes and offices without emitting carbon into the air or dumping radioactive waste into the environment.

In the decades scientists have been experimenting with fusion reactions, they had not until now been able to create one that produces more energy than it consumes. While the achievement is significant, there are still monumental engineering and scientific challenges ahead.

Creating the net energy gain required engagement of one of the largest lasers in the world, and the resources needed to recreate the reaction on the scale required to make fusion practical for energy production are immense. More importantly, engineers have yet to develop machinery capable of affordably turning that reaction into electricity that can be practically deployed to the power grid.

Building devices that are large enough to create fusion power at scale, scientists say, would require materials that are extraordinarily difficult to produce. At the same time, the reaction creates neutrons that put a tremendous amount of stress on the equipment creating it, such that it can get destroyed in the process.

And then there is the question of whether the technology could be perfected in time to make a dent in climate change.

Even so, researchers and investors in fusion technology hailed the breakthrough as an important advancement.

“There is going to be great pride that this is something that happened in the United States,” said David Edelman, who leads policy and global affairs at TAE, a large private fusion energy company. “This is a very important milestone on the road toward fusion energy.”

It comes as the Biden administration is prioritizing fusion energy research in its climate and energy agenda. The projects are among the front of the line for the tens of billions of dollars in subsidies and grants authorized through the major climate package Biden signed over the summer, called the Inflation Reduction Act.

Over the past several decades, the United States, Russia and various European nations have allocated billions in government dollars trying to master the science, believing that if they could, it would be a boon for the world.


A target pellet inside a hohlraum capsule with laser beams entering through openings on either end, seen in an illustration. The beams compress and heat the target to the necessary conditions for nuclear fusion to occur. (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory/AP)

Fusion has been 20 years away for the last 50 years. Someday humans may crack it, but don't hold your breath. I sure would not invest my personal money in it.

[javadog]

I predict none of us will live long enough to see it, but that’s OK, because we have enough oil and gas to last well beyond our lifetimes.

[Cajundaddy]

They are working the problem from multiple angles and I expect this to happen sooner rather than later. An interesting time for technology.

[Mahler9th]

https://cfs.energy/news-and-media/commonwealth-fusion-systems-closes-1-8-billion-series-b-round

Another Theranos?

BIG milestone in 2025 is listed.

"'...commercially relevant..."

I guess none of the money people know what they are doing.

Or perhaps... $1.8B "moonshot?"

But wait, didn't we just have a "moonshot?"

We are in the "exponential" now. And the "existential."

[stevej37]

I would love to see it get worked out during my lifetime....but I doubt it will.

[Mahler9th]

Interesting:

https://techcrunch.com/2022/10/02/the-biological-theory-that-explains-why-investors-are-bullish-on-fusion/

“The reason to be excited about fusion now is the same reason to be excited about computers in the 1940s when someone invented the transistor.”

That pesky transistor, the root of all human evil or...

a gateway to myriad "money printing machines."

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by javadog

I predict none of us will live long enough to see it, but that’s OK, because we have enough oil and gas to last well beyond our lifetimes.

Only if we can afford to pay for it.

[Arizona_928]

Just streamline thorium nuclear reactors for energy production for today.

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Fusion has been 20 years away for the last 50 years. Someday humans may crack it, but don't hold your breath. I sure would not invest my personal money in it.

It'll be ready when your El Camino needs a new long block.

[varmint]

in 1000 years no one will remember biden or the kardashians or twitter. but this might be a day marked down.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by varmint

in 1000 years no one will remember biden or the kardashians or twitter. but this might be a day marked down.

1000 years from now the earth will be barren.

[daepp]

We already have fission, and there are those who wish it would all go away because they know it will allow civilization to continue to thrive. Unfortunately there are many who want to see us regress... I can only imagine how they'll kill fusion reactors - China Syndrome II?

[HobieMarty]

What's all the hub bub about? Doc Brown invented that stuff years ago and put it on a car!!!

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by varmint

in 1000 years no one will remember biden or the kardashians or twitter. but this might be a day marked down.

Well, Biden and Twitter, ok… but the Kardashians? I don’t think so.

[Superman]

I use it to heat my coffee in the morning.

[Baz]

Love it, Shaun!

I mean....how could anyone not be in love with Elisabeth Shue?

Great movie, too!

[KFC911]

Are you profusion or confusion?

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by Baz

Love it, Shaun!

I mean....how could anyone not be in love with Elisabeth Shue?

Great movie, too!

Which had more star power creating cold fusion, The Saint with Kilmer/Shue or Chain Reaction with Freeman/Reeves?

[Baz]

Originally Posted by pazuzu

which had more star power creating cold fusion, the saint with kilmer/shue or chain reaction with freeman/reeves and Rachel Weisz and Fred Ward (r.i.p.)?

fify!