Could Nuclear Fusion Finally Provide a Climate-Friendly Power Source?

Nuclear fusion could be the energy source of the future. We’ve heard that for decades, of course. But scientists say it could be for real this time. They point to a recent breakthrough. It could turn nuclear fusion into a clean and nearly limitless source of climate-friendly energy.

The Joint European Torus (JET) research project in December released 11 megawatts of power from a fusion reactor. That's enough to boil 60 pots of water for 5 seconds. 

Ian Chapman is chief executive of the UK Atomic Energy Authority. He called the project a major advance in science. Fusion, he said, could help slow climate change.

But it could take years to develop power plants for nuclear fusion. That’s so they could withstand the high temperatures produced by nuclear fusion reactors.

Scientists call the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) an important next step. It's set to be finished in 2025. It will be the world’s largest fusion reactor.

Nuclear fusion makes energy by joining smaller atoms together to form a larger one. It is the opposite of nuclear fission. That releases energy by splitting atoms. 

Nuclear fusion is experimental. But 438 fission reactors operate around the world. 93 are in the US. Fission reactors, though, carry risks of radiation accidents. They can leave entire regions unlivable for many years. Nuclear fusion doesn't carry that risk.

Photo from Reuters.