For half a century, nuclear fusion has presented itself as the definitive frontier of energy, a horizon of hope and innovation. In this path, made of enormous progress and equally many challenges, the scientific community has had to deal with the difficulty of making a process controllable and sustainable which, if on the one hand it is theoretically simple, on the other hand proves to be extremely complex in practice. Where are we REALLY at?
Fascination and difficulty of nuclear fusion energy
The concept of nuclear fusion, which involves combining light atomic nuclei to form heavier ones, releasing energy, has fascinated scientists since its conception. This technology promises to replicate the process that powers the Sun and stars, offering a virtually unlimited and clean source of energy. However, the path to transforming this theory into a tangible reality turned out to be more tortuous than expected.
The main obstacle in realizing nuclear fusion is the creation of an environment that can contain and control the reaction. Fusion requires extremely high temperatures, on the order of millions of degrees, which make it difficult to keep the reaction stable and controlled. Furthermore, the process must produce more energy than is consumed to trigger it, a condition known as the “breakeven point”.
Have we ever achieved it? Yes. Recently, in 2022, at the National Ignition Facility in the USA. Perhaps, after decades this was the real, first turning point.
Two main approaches: inertial and magnetic confinement
Currently, there are two main methods for attempting to achieve controlled nuclear fusion energy: inertial confinement and magnetic confinement.
Inertial Confinement
Inertial confinement is a method that aims to achieve nuclear fusion through the use of an intense energy source, such as powerful lasers or particle beams, which is focused on a small target, typically a capsule containing the fusion fuel ( hydrogen). The idea is to rapidly compress and heat the fuel to such a high temperature and pressure that atomic nuclei fuse, releasing energy. This process occurs in a very short amount of time, hence the term “inertial,” since the reaction must complete before the fuel can expand and cool.
Magnetic Confinement
Magnetic confinement, on the other hand, uses powerful magnetic fields to contain and control a hot hydrogen plasma. Plasma is essentially a gas of charged particles (ions and electrons) at extremely high temperatures, necessary for fusion. The magnetic fields serve to keep the plasma stable and away from the walls of the reactor, as in contact with solid materials the plasma would cool and the fusion reaction would stop. This method relies on constant and prolonged control of the plasma to support the reaction and produce nuclear fusion energy.
The roadmap
70 years of nuclear power are still not enough. Since 1954, the year in which the Obninsk fission plant in the Soviet Union became the first nuclear power plant in the world (producing approximately 5 MW of electricity), progress and setbacks have continued at a constant pace. Except in recent years. In a nutshell, this is the recent panorama and the updated forecasts.
- 2007: Starting the ITER project, a nuclear fusion reactor, with the first goal of building the first fusion nuclear power plant by 2025.
- 2022: Ad of the experiment in California which produced energy from nuclear fusion.
- 2023: European scientists from the JET laboratory achieve significant results, bringing nuclear fusion closer to reality.
- 2024: Italy, through ENEA, also participates in experiments for nuclear fusion energy (such as the new reactor started in Japan), contributing to research efforts in this field.
- 2035: Prediction of the start of the first operations with deuterium and tritium within the ITER project.
- 2040: Forecast for the construction of a “first of a kind” power plant.
Indeed, we are 15-20 years away from the first nuclear fusion power plant. These are not pessimistic estimates, on the contrary. They are perhaps too optimistic: managing plasma in magnetic confinement and creating a stable environment for fusion remain difficult tasks.
And all the projects (including ITER, which will be the first “dinosaur” in the sector) have run into management problems and unexpected costs.
The future of nuclear fusion
Some experts remain optimistic, others are more cautious, but they all have one thing in common: the attractiveness of clean, nearly unlimited energy will continue to drive research in this field.
Nuclear fusion energy represents an inside-out bet on the future of energy technology. With the right combination of investment, research and innovation, it could overcome current obstacles and become the entire world's energy source. The history of science is full of challenges that seemed insurmountable and which were then overcome thanks to human genius and persistence in research. Nuclear fusion could follow this model, transforming from a dream to a tangible reality, with a profound and lasting impact on humanity and our planet.
We are all rooting for her, even those who say otherwise.
