Could Fusion Reactors Be the Future of Power Production?

 

Clean and renewable power without contributing to climate change or other types of pollution. Fusion reactors have been in development for decades. However, there’s still no guarantee that they will be able to operate with complete safety and deliver on their promise as an alternative energy source. What are fusion reactors, and could they be the future of power production? Here’s what you need to know about this exciting new technology.

 

Discoveries Have Been Made in Fusion Technology

For decades, scientists have searched for a clean, cheap alternative to fossil fuels. And though fusion may not be around for a few years or even decades, recent progress in fusion technology has proponents optimistic that we may finally be able to produce limitless amounts of clean energy from our Earth’s core.

 

What are the Risks?

Just like any power source, fusion power has its drawbacks. It’s a complex process that requires a large amount of capital and very advanced technology to create workable reactors. And, even with all that hard work, there’s no guarantee that fusion reactors will produce more energy than they consume. However, if commercial fusion reactors can be built without major cost overruns or environmental side effects, they could generate clean power for centuries without needing to be replaced.

 

How Close Are We To Commercializing a Fusion Reactor?

For about six decades, scientists have tried to harness fusion energy—energy that can be created by fusing two lighter atomic nuclei together. The problem is that most fusion reactions must occur at extremely high temperatures, a feat far beyond our technical capabilities. So what if there were another approach? One explored is aneutronic fusion, which involves bombarding fuel with beams of high-energy particles.

 

How Much Energy Can We Get From A Fusion Reactor?

According to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in terms of potential energy production, a fusion reactor could generate anywhere from 100 gigawatts (GW) to 3.8 terawatts (TW). That’s more than enough to power our planet—and then some. In addition, fusion reactors can do so without generating CO2 emissions. They create their own fuel, meaning they wouldn’t produce a carbon footprint or contribute excess carbon dioxide into our already-overburdened atmosphere.

 

Challenges For Cleaner and Cheap Energy

While fossil fuels have made it easy to power homes and cars, they've come at a cost. Burning fossil fuels contributes significantly to greenhouse gases and climate change. While hydroelectric, wind, solar, and other renewable sources are growing in popularity, there's also been some interest in nuclear fusion reactors as an alternative source of clean energy.