Thermonuclear power

Nuclear fusion

Main article: Nuclear fusion

2024

Breakthrough in thermonuclear power: For the first time, it was possible to exceed the limit of plasma density in a tokamak by 10 times

At the end of July 2024, American researchers from the University of Wisconsin at Madison reported that for the first time they managed to exceed the theoretical limit of plasma density in a tokamak-type fusion reactor by 10 times. This achievement is of great importance, since controlled fusion is expected to provide mankind with a practically limitless, clean and cheap source of energy in the future.

Tokamak is a toroidal installation for magnetic retention of plasma. In 1988, Martin Greenwald, senior scientist at the MIT Center for Plasma Research and Fusion (MIT), determined the limit of the density above which tokamak plasma becomes unstable. Over the next several decades, the so-called Greenwald limit was exceeded at best twice. In the new work, scientists managed to increase the value by an order of magnitude.

phys.org

In the course of research, experts used the Madison Symmetrical Torus (MST), a nuclear fusion reactor created to operate in tokamak mode. Unlike other tokamaks, the MST has a thick high-conductivity metal wall, allowing for more stable operation. The plant is also equipped with a special programmable power system that allows feedback-based adjustment. Plasma density during experiments was measured using interferometers.

In the course of the work, the researchers were able to exceed the Greenwald limit by 10 times. Scientists believe that the maximum permissible plasma density is determined by the hardware limitations of a particular installation, and not by the instability of the plasma itself. In the future, the study could help create more efficient tokamaks.^[1]

Fusion power: China unveils world's first commercial artificial sun

On June 18, 2024, the Chinese company Energy Singularity announced the completion and commissioning of a tokamak-type thermonuclear reactor on high-temperature superconductivity coils. The installation, called HH70, represents "the world's first commercial artificial sun." Read more here.

The world's largest fusion reactor has finally been completed. It took $28 billion

In early July 2024, participants in the ITER project to create the world's largest tokamak-type thermonuclear reactor announced the completion of one of the main stages of work. The giant complex is finally completed, but its launch is delayed by at least 15 years. Read more here

The volume of investments in thermonuclear power for the year in the world increased by $1.4 billion

By mid-2023, investments in the private fusion industry reached approximately $6.21 billion. This is $1.4 billion more than the figure that was recorded during the previous 12-month period. Interest in the relevant area is growing rapidly amid the energy crisis that the world faced in 2021-2022. Such data are given in the report of the non-profit Fusion Industry Association (FIA), published on July 12, 2023.

The document says that the number of thermonuclear startups on an annualized basis has increased by a third - to 43 units. Of these, more than half - 25 - are located in the United States. At the same time, the market is becoming more geographically distributed: as of mid-2023, at least one thermonuclear power company operated in 12 countries. New players include businesses from New Zealand (Openstar), Sweden (Novatron), Germany (Gauss, Proxima) and China (Energy Singularity).

Unsplash

Major investors in the market in question include Eni, Chevron, Equinor, Mitsubishi, Kuwait Investment Authority, New Zealand Growth Capital, TDK Ventures, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and John Doer. Investment in startups from states doubled, reaching $271.6 million. It is noted that 18 companies participate in public-private partnerships.

Four companies expect to start producing thermonuclear kilowatt-hours by 2030, and another 19 by 2035, the FIA study said. However, the authors of the report say that there are difficulties in implementing projects. The main obstacle is a lack of funding: many startups point out that many more money than they have at their disposal will be needed to solve the remaining scientific and engineering tasks and achieve commercial viability.^[2]

Notes