Fusion energy breakthrough made by US scientists, paving way for clean power future
- Researchers have, for the first time, produced more energy in fusion reaction than that used to ignite it, which is called a net energy gain
- It’s a key moment in quest to harness fusion, energy that powers the sun and other stars; proponents hope that one day it can produce limitless carbon-free energy
US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm announced a “major scientific breakthrough” on Tuesday in the decades-long quest to harness fusion, the energy that powers the sun and stars.
Researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California for the first time produced more energy in a fusion reaction than was used to ignite it, something called net energy gain, the Energy Department said.
The achievement will pave the way for advancements in national defence and the future of clean power, officials said.
Granholm was appearing alongside Livermore researchers at a news conference in Washington.
“This is a landmark achievement for the researchers and staff at the National Ignition Facility who have dedicated their careers to seeing fusion ignition become a reality, and this milestone will undoubtedly spark even more discovery,” Granholm said in a statement.
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Chinese scientists experiment with gaining limitless clean energy through fusion reactions
Proponents of fusion hope that it could one day produce nearly limitless, carbon-free energy, displacing fossil fuels and other traditional energy sources. Producing energy that powers homes and businesses from fusion is still decades away. But researchers said it was a significant step nonetheless.