Concord, MA — Energy for the Common Good (ECG) applauds fusion’s positive scientific gain breakthrough achieved on December 5th by the National Ignition Facility (NIF) located at Lawrence Livermore National Lab in California.
According to data made public by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) at today’s press conference, the energy from the ignition exceeded that of the energy emitted by the lasers by 150%, or a gain of 1.5, producing the first ever positive scientific gain. Net energy gain and the capability to harness that energy for commercial use is the goal of fusion companies and researchers. Today’s announcement represents a tremendous step forward in this quest. These results are a boon to those currently developing fusion devices.
Mike Campbell, former Director of the Laboratory for Laser Energetics/ University of Rochester describes the importance of the results to ECG: “This result — the first time that more fusion energy was produced than was needed to heat and confine the plasma — is like the Wright Brothers Kitty Hawk flight that showed ‘heavier than air machines could fly.’ Lots of research and engineering ahead but this is a major first step to that goal. Could Orville and Wilbur ever have imagined a 787 and routine global air travel for anyone? In the future, we will look back at this result the same way.”
Gabriela Hearst, Creative Director of Chloé and well-known fusion energy advocate told ECG that “The tremendous hope — the breakthrough at NIF — shows not only that fusion will happen, but faster than expected. The momentum is now. We need to immediately start thinking of all the logistics behind the deployment of commerciality, as the need for clean energy cannot wait.”
Clearing the path for commercialization is precisely ECG’s mission, and part of that is ensuring the future generation has well prepared scientists. Yesterday, Kayla Miller, ECG Director of Education conducted the first-ever 5th grade after-school Fusion and Climate Change Workshop at the Paige Elementary School at the Schenectady, NY School District. This is just the first of a series of curricula ECG will be offering to public schools everywhere.
ECG believes that limitless, carbon-free, and environmentally respectful fusion energy will partner with other renewable energy sources soon enough to make a difference to positively affect climate change.
Jane Hotchkiss, President of ECG attended today’s Department of Energy press conference in Washington, DC.
About Energy for the Common Good:
ECG is an independent non-profit positioned to advance fusion to the US clean energy portfolio by educating public opinion and decision makers about the benefits of fusion energy with a focus on environmental and public safety NGO’s. A critical part of the mission is to bring transparency and understanding of fusion’s lifecycle characteristics to a discussion toward accepting this exciting energy technology.