Breakthroughs in Fusion Energy Technology Signal Progress

Fusion energy could change the landscape of renewable energy with its promise of limitless, carbon-free power, especially when complemented by wind and solar energy. However, despite recent breakthroughs, there are still significant barriers to overcome before fusion energy becomes practical.

In the U.K, a facility recently achieved a record-setting 69 megajoules of heat in a single pulse. In California, another facility accomplished net energy gain, where the energy generated by a fusion reaction exceeded the energy needed to perform the reaction. These advancements have influenced over $7 billion in funding invested in fusion research.

Canada is also a leader in advancing fusion energy. At the forefront is a company in Burnaby, B.C that is developing an approach called Magnetized Target Fusion. This approach uses a liquid metal liner to contain fusion fuel. The liner is then rapidly compressed by pistons which generate the extreme heat and pressure required to cause fusion reactions. This approach stands out because of its practicality and cost-effectiveness, which stems from the lack of reliance on traditional technologies like high-cost magnetic fields and lasers.

The potential of fusion energy not only offers a reliable energy source to complement existing renewable energy sources like solar and wind, but also presents an economic opportunity to create jobs, strengthen the domestic energy sector, and enhance energy security.

Before that potential can be realized, barriers like short reaction times and insufficient materials must be overcome. This will be a lengthy process, and we likely won’t be seeing commercial usage of fusion energy until the latter half of the century.

As we work towards breakthroughs in fusion, Borrum Energy Solutions designs and manufactures microgeneration wind turbines that offer a practical and immediate way to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and transition to a greener future.