Nuclear fusion is (maybe) closer than you think: 2028 horizon

Many experts believe that the energy from thermonuclear reaction decades before that. Scientists have long envisioned 2050 as the time horizon of the most anticipated great revolution ever, leading to decarbonization and competitively priced energy to ease the ecological transition and move away from fossil fuels. ,

However, Microsoft believes that a merger may finally be around the corner. Not thirty years later, as industry physicists have been predicting for about forty years. But judging by 2028. Although five years later Peter MartinProfessor of the Department of Experimental Physics of the Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of Paduacontrolled fusion specialist, reiterates that we must not deceive ourselves, despite progress and progress.

Nuclear fusion energy: conventions

In the first deal to trade fusion energy, Microsoft agreed to buy electricity from startup Helion Energy for about five years.

Helion backed by the founder Open AI Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot that promotes“generative artificial intelligence (AI) (requiring huge computing power, energy-intensive), as never happened before the launch of Gpt-4, has committed to start generating electricity through fusion by 2028. The startup closed in 2021 with $500 million in funding. An investment that marks a mini boom in start-up funding in this promising source of clean energy. Promisingly, but without unnecessary illusions, as the Italian scientists extended their hand.

The startup’s goal is to produce at least 50 megawatts of energy for Microsoft in a year, on pain of paying financial penalties. Commitment is ambition and the project is bold because neither Helion nor any other scientist in the world has yet produced electricity by thermonuclear fusion.. And there’s no shortage of naysayers who say they want to read newspapers without stopping at promising videos and 3D graphics. Because there are problems, and no one explains how they managed to overcome them in order to take thermonuclear fusion out of the basic research (R&D) phase and even begin to commercialize it for the construction of power plants. In fact, according to experts, there is still a long way to go before fusion energy can become a commercial source of electricity.

Sam Altman’s (OpenAI) Nuclear Fusion Startup: Microsoft Goals

“We wouldn’t have made this deal if we weren’t optimistic that technical advances are gaining popularity.Microsoft president said Brad Smith. Indeed, in an interview Melanie Nakagawadirector of sustainable development of the company, confirmed that the electricity generated in this way “will provide electricity Microsoft data centers“. In a recent report, the Redmond giant unveiled its global sustainability strategy, starting with carbon removal technologies (1.4 million tonnes already removed in 2022 when business recorded +18% and emissions -0.5%), yet to be field-tested . large scale. microsoft, which currently accounts for 0.03% of global emissions (96% outside data centers), feeds Really aiming to become carbon neutral, i.e. with zero emissions, from 2030. A truly ambitious target, as Microsoft must cut emissions in tough industries such as steel, cement, and jet fuel.

Fusion powers the Sun and stars, and could potentially provide a virtually unlimited amount of carbon-free energy if it could be used on Earth. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) predicts that electricity from fusion will be produced in the second half of the century.

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Helion is building a prototype that it says will demonstrate ability to generate electricity through fusion next year.

Constellation Energy

“The goal is not to put on the most beautiful technology showcase in the world,” Altman said in an interview. “The goal is to provide the world with energy and do it extremely cheaply.”

Altman said having the customer first is key to keeping Helion connected to the realities of the business, including partnering with customers, utilities and grid operators.

Earlier this year, Microsoft entered into a multi-billion dollar partnership with OpenAI to expand the use of artificial intelligence in its products.

Constellation Energy, The company, which has the country’s largest fleet of nuclear power plants among its power generation assets, will be the operator of the electricity market and will manage the transmission of electricity under the project.

Nuclear Fusion Startup Investors

Altman expressed hope that Helion will be able to supply electricity to the grid even until 2028.. He moved $375 million at Helion and said he visits the company once a month, helping executives understand what to work on and how to be as efficient as possible, as well as hiring and vetting talent..

Numerous prominent investors, from Altman to Bill Gatesinvested in steel companies, which attracted more $5 billionAccording to the Washington Fusion Industry Association.

Six prototypes of the Helion thermonuclear installation, which were the result of decades of research, showed that the sixth installation had reached a plasma temperature of 100 million degrees. The seventh prototype promises to demonstrate the ability to generate electricity as early as 2024.

conclusions

The process of splitting atoms in nuclear power plants provides about 20% of the US electricity. But nuclear fusion systems will generate electricity from the energy released when hydrogen atoms combine to form helium.

Now we need to understand whether Helion’s announcement that it is ready to supply fusion energy from 2028 is the planned date of operation or is it another dangerous illusion that distracts us from the energy transition path, which should take into account the energy balance – at this moment. – renewable energy sources, nuclear fission, geothermal energy, etc. Without distracting us from the green solutions already available that are needed today to address climate change, which – evidenced this summer, when the earth is boiling, the UN says, amid devastating fires, record high ocean warming and flooding – is accelerating.