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    A Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough May Be Closer Than You Think - The U.S. energy system is in the middle of an all-out revolution.
    Futurology

    A Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough May Be Closer Than You Think – The U.S. energy system is in the middle of an all-out revolution.

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    24 Comments

    1. Gari_305 on

      From the article

      Private companies take a different approach, trying to make money as soon as possible with fast-paced, commercially-oriented innovation. Today, the Fusion Industry Association [counts](https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-annual-global-fusion-industry-report.pdf) at least 45 private companies globally working to develop commercial fusion; in total those companies have raised more than $7 billion—largely from private backers.

      Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) is leading the pack. The company has raised over $2 billion—more than any competitor—and plans to put power on the grid in the early 2030s. The scientific press has paid significant attention to CFS’s technological innovation: using a high-temperature super conducting tape that can create strong magnetic fields. But the company’s success is the result of a combination of that technical innovation and a focus on commercial speed. To get past labor shortages, its leaders have hired from a cross section of related fields rather than focusing solely on PhD physicists. And it has adapted its blue prints and supply chains to accommodate easily adaptable products that are already on the market rather than trying to build from scratch.

      “We wanted to make the technology work as soon as possible,” says Brandon Sorbom, the company’s chief science officer. “Everything else is subordinate to that.”

      The company’s SPARC facility—where I visited the under-construction tokamak—is scheduled to deliver first net energy production in 2027. Late last year, the company said it would build its first commercial power plant in Virginia with the goal of delivering power to the grid in the early 2030s. 

    4. Spsurgeon on

      Wind and solar are the least expensive and cleanest options. And bonus – they don’t require a large Corporate Owner.

    5. LordLucian on

      Isn’t it almost limitless energy and clean?
      Can someone correct me if I’m wrong

    7. TotakekeSlider on

      Just one more 10-year breakthrough, bro. I swear that’s it, just one more. This time for sure, I promise.

    8. wolfiasty on

      I’ll believe it when I will see it. And it will be a glorious view

      But till then – yeah, sure. Saw such headlines multiple times.

    9. oasiscat on

      Literally the plot of Spider-Man 2. Privatization of a highly experimental energy source.

      I’m sure they will prioritize safety and careful science above profits and—

      “Everything is subordinate (to speed).”

      Oh.

    10. mehmetem on

      I just rewatched the Cloverfield Paradox, and I would like to say, “No, thank you.”

    12. Upbeat_Platypus1833 on

      Really hope for this to happen but have been hearing about these breakthroughs for years.

      Also further to that, even if it does become a reality billionaires will ruin it by making it a massive commodity that they reap huge profits from which will stagnation adoption.

    14. 1ofBillion on

      It’s close when the ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ guy will try to make fusion illegal.

    16. Sea_Artist_4247 on

      This is absolutely not true unless you think fusion is never happening, but it’s definitely not going to be commercially available in the next 15 years 

    17. Exo_Deadlock on

      Just as the US economy is about to collapse under the weight of its debts! Good job, America.

    18. ArtieTheFashionDemon on

      You know it’s definitely not happening anytime soon because the oil companies aren’t trying to stop it

    19. Moist_Field_9624 on

      The problem isn’t just generating clean energy — it’s moving it.

      Wind, solar, even future fusion — none of it scales without long-distance transmission. But our grid is outdated, and building new lines is a nightmare.

      Take the CMP corridor in Maine: a major clean energy project killed after fossil fuel lobbies stirred up opposition and voters blocked it. Banks saw that and took note — why invest in transmission if your project can be sunk by a political campaign?

      So even if we had all the renewables and fusion tech ready tomorrow, it’s all stranded unless we fix transmission — and the broken politics around it.

    21. flamesonwater on

      As hopefull as i am for this being our future, im unfortunately well aware of the fact that oil lobbyists will do anything in their power to stop advancement in order to make more money

    22. Leonardo-DaBinchi on

      Wow incredible amount of snarky comments in here. Is this a gas/coal industry bot swarm in here or am I going insane?

      Yes, fusion was a far off fantasy for a long time. In the last five years we’ve seen exponential increases in sustained fusion reaction time, there’s been actual, measurable progress in fusion, not just hype, if you pay even an ounce of attention.

    23. Echoeversky on

      NuScale has SMR’s regulatory approved right now here in America. We could start with that and in 50 years rotate out to fusion.