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Nuclear fusion could one day be a viable clean energy source, but big engineering challenges stand in the way


Published on 2025-01-08 13:22:19 - techxplore
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  • The way scientists think about fusion changed forever in 2022, when what some called the experiment of the century demonstrated for the first time that fusion can be a viable source of clean energy.

The article from TechXplore discusses a significant advancement in nuclear fusion technology, highlighting that scientists have achieved a milestone where fusion reactions produced more energy than was used to initiate them, a process known as ignition. This breakthrough occurred at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in California, where researchers managed to create conditions similar to those inside stars, using lasers to compress hydrogen isotopes until they fused. This event, described as a "net energy gain," marks a pivotal moment for fusion energy, potentially paving the way for a future where fusion could provide a near-limitless, clean energy source. However, the article also notes that while this is a monumental step, practical, commercial fusion power plants are still decades away due to numerous technical and engineering challenges that need to be overcome, including scaling up the process, improving efficiency, and reducing costs. The achievement has reignited interest and investment in fusion research, with experts suggesting that this could be the beginning of a new era in energy production, although skepticism remains about the timeline for fusion becoming a viable energy source.

Read the Full techxplore Article at:
[ https://techxplore.com/news/2025-01-nuclear-fusion-day-viable-energy.html ]