In our civic issues blogs regarding the future of the planet and this disease known as global warming, we have come to the conclusion that greener, healthier, alternative forms of energy would go a long way toward reducing the blatant excess of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. So far, we have covered solar power, wind power, hydroelectric power, and even nuclear power, all admirable goals for our society to strive toward. After wall, energy independence coupled with completely green sources is the dream. But for this post, we are going to jump into the future to a notion of apparent science fiction. We have already talked about existing nuclear power plants and their role in the energy grid, but that is nuclear fission. So fasten your seat belts folks, things are about to get technical because we are talking about the pièce de résistance of power generation: nuclear fusion. 

This topic perfectly fits the mission statement of this blog which is to focus on the breakthroughs of innovators trying to make the world a better place. Nuclear fusion technology definitely fits the category of innovation because, well….it hasn’t exactly been achieved yet. The science behind nuclear fusion, at least for energy, is still firmly entrenched in theory and experiment. But before we get into how we use, lets talk about what it is in comparison with fission.

Nuclear fission, or the phenomenon that runs nuclear power plants, involves taking a very heavy isotope, such as uranium, firing a neutron at it, and splitting it into smaller elements.

The Isar Nuclear Power Plant in Germany

This split releases loads of energy that can be used to boil water, turn a turbine, and generate electricity. The unfortunate downside to this reaction (of which there are many) is that it produces radioactive waste, something that is dangerous and very difficult to get rid of. And, you may even know a real-world example of nuclear fission outside of power generation. Ever heard of an atomic bomb? So fission is dangerous and it produces waste, but it produces waaaaay more energy than chemical reactions like fossil fuels.

Nuclear fusion, on the other hand, is basically the opposite. Actually, its the way stars in space are fueled.

It involves taking light isotopes, most often of hydrogen, and bringing them so close together that they fuse into a helium atom.

This process produces three to four times more energy than fission and it produces next to no radioactive waste. The source, hydrogen, is easy to get and nearly inexhaustible. The main drawback is that it takes a massive amount of energy for hydrogen atoms to fuse. They have to be in incredibly high temperature (several hundred million degrees Celsius to be exact) and high density. THIS is where scientist have hit a snag. How do you raise something to that high of temperature. Maybe a better question? How do you contain something that hot? Any known material would instantly vaporize at that temperature. The answer: magnets. The hydrogen cloud is contained in a strong magnetic field and spun until it reaches the appropriate temperature.

The basic schematic of a standard fusion reactor

Like the other reactor, it is then used to heat water and turn a turbine. And if it breaks down? Instead of exploding radioactivity in a hundred mile radius, it simply cools down and stops the reaction…after it vaporizes everything in a close vicinity.

So we see it’s obviously better: next to no environmental impact, cheap input fuel, reduced meltdown danger, and besides the initial input energy, theoretically self-sustaining. The only problem? It hasn’t been done yet. Now we get to talk about the diligent scientists trying to make it happen.

Scientists over at Princeton university are working on the National Spherical Torus Experiment to study plasma (hot hydrogen) confinement via magnets.

The National Spherical Torus Experiment

This is only part of a much larger international initiative to build the largest experimental fusion reactor in France as part of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. They are making great strides in the field, however, crippling research costs and setbacks are making the project a lofty goal. On the private side, Lockheed Martin, the government’s largest contractor, claims that it will have a truck size fusion reactor able to sustain itself, ready in ten years. If this is a realistic goal, this would be monumental and groundbreaking toward out strides in clean energy. It would finally prove that the billions we have spent in research were not in vain. Dare I say, it would herald a new era. An era of star power.

So what do you guys think? Is the prospect of fusion worth the money we are dumping into it right now? Let me know! Thanks!!