Frequently Asked Questions about Fusion
Fusion is not well known outside the fusion industry. It’s more often associated with sci fi films and superheroes than the climate change solution it could be. But as the technology progresses, and we do our job right, that is changing. We are building awareness and broad support for fusion energy—ensuring the means for rapid development and deployment are in place well before the first commercial fusion devices are built. Below are a few of the questions we hear most frequently. If you have a question not addressed below, ask us!
What is fusion?
Fusion is the process of taking two light elements, the building blocks of matter, and pushing them close enough together that they combine (or “fuse”) into a heavier element. In this process, some of the mass is converted directly into energy without the creation of harmful wastes such as greenhouse gases (GHGs). This energy can be harnessed in a multitude of ways ranging from producing electricity to providing the heat for manufacturing.
Why is fusion important?
The recent impartial IPCC report projects that global warming of 1.5°C and 2°C will be exceeded during the 21st century unless there are rapid, large-scale reductions in CO2 and other GHGs. In other words, we will go beyond the so-called “tipping point,” unless we act. To meet 2050 decarbonization targets, technological advancements are required to replace existing energy from coal and gas. Fusion can play a disruptive role in decarbonizing the economy in time to make this critical difference.
Why is it important to support fusion?
Fusion will be a new source of carbon-free baseload electricity, producing no long-lived radioactive waste. The energy dense, consistent power generation that fusion will provide is a critical need for the growth of renewables. Fusing atoms together in a controlled way releases abundant energy and uses fuels widely available that don’t require mining or dangerous transport. Learn more here.
How will fusion be regulated?
The NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) is charged with regulating fusion. They are currently working on draft regulations for fusion development due in the near future. As part of this process, the NRC is holding public meetings to hear comments and concerns from stakeholders and the public. Reach out to us is you would like to engage with that process.
When was fusion discovered?
Fusion is not new: it is what powers our sun and all the stars in the universe. This naturally occurring process was first hypothesized in 1926 when British astrophysicist Arthur Eddington published a theory stating that the fusion of helium and hydrogen created star energy. Scientists today are trying to emulate that process.
What is ITER?
ITER is one of the most ambitious energy projects in the world today. In southern France, 35 nations are collaborating on building the world’s largest tokamak, a magnetic fusion device designed to prove the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale and carbon-free source of energy based on the same principle that powers our sun and stars. The primary goals for ITER are to produce net energy; maintain fusion for long periods of time; and to test the integrated technologies, materials, and physics regimes necessary for the commercial production of fusion-based electricity.
What is net energy?
When the total power produced during a fusion plasma pulse surpasses the thermal power injected to heat the plasma. Some of the commercial companies and ITER are in the process of building devices to do just that.