nuclear fusion closer. Another small but important step towards the energy of the future. Breakeven point reached

US scientists have demonstrated the energy efficiency of a fusion reaction for the second time. These results give confidence in moving towards the dream of carbon-free infinite energy.

Livermore National Laboratory. Lawrence near San Francisco had previously conducted a series of tests that did not reach the “even point”, i.e. the point at which the energy entering the system is less than the output.

Since the 1950s, physicists have tried reproduce the fusion reaction that occurs in the sun. However, as of December, no group of scientists has yet been able to achieve a result that would produce more energy than was spent on the reaction.

But the July 30 experiment outperformed the December experiment, and it seems that this new technology is starting to become a reality.

An experiment at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory

Merging happens when two isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium and tritiumheated to extreme temperatures, where atomic nuclei fuse, releasing helium and a huge amount of energy in the form of neutrons.

Despite theories that fusion power plants will not become a reality, their potential cannot be ignored today. Thus, a small glass of hydrogen fuel could theoretically power a house for hundreds of years.

The most studied method of obtaining energy from thermonuclear fusion based on magnetic hold, while the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory uses the method inertial hold, in which the world’s most powerful laser is aimed at a microscopic fuel capsule.

Clean energy in large quantities

US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm

described the result of December as “one of the most impressive scientific achievements of the 21st century“. The scientific community is waiting for detailed data on the results of the experiment, but it is already clear that more and more obvious is the acceleration of the development of thermonuclear energy.

According to two people familiar with the preliminary results, the initial data from the July experiment showed an energy yield in excess of 3.5 MJ. This energy would be enough for about an hour of operation of a household iron.

Achieving net energy gains has been observed for decades as a decisive step in proving that commercial fusion power plants are possible. However, there are still a few hurdles to overcome.

The energy gain in this context is only compared to the energy generated in the lasers and not to the total amount of energy taken from the grid to power the system, which is much higher. Scientists estimate that commercial fusion will require reactions that generate 30 to 100 times more energy than lasers.