What is fusion energy and how does it differ from other forms of energy production?
Fusion energy is a type of nuclear energy that is generated by fusing together lightweight atomic nuclei, such as isotopes of hydrogen, to form heavier elements. This process releases a tremendous amount of energy and is similar to the process that powers the sun. Unlike traditional forms of energy production, such as burning fossil fuels or harnessing nuclear fission, fusion has the potential to provide a virtually limitless, clean, and safe source of energy without producing long-lived radioactive waste or contributing to climate change.
Long answer
Fusion energy refers to the production of heat and electricity through controlled nuclear fusion reactions. The fundamental principle behind fusion is combining two light atomic nuclei under extremely high temperatures and pressures to create a heavier nucleus resulting in the release of an enormous amount of energy. Two isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium (D) and tritium (T), are commonly used as fuel for fusion reactions.
In contrast to other forms of energy production, like burning fossil fuels or utilizing nuclear fission, fusion offers several distinct advantages. Firstly, fusion fuel in the form of hydrogen isotopes can be derived from seawater and extracted from lithium deposits found abundantly in the Earth’s crust. This means that the raw materials for fusion are almost unlimited and widely accessible compared to finite reserves of fossil fuels.
Secondly, fusion reactions release substantially more energy compared to conventional processes while only requiring a minute quantity of fuel. The released energy can power turbines directly or generate steam for electricity generation with minimal environmental impact. Moreover, unlike fossil fuel combustion which emits greenhouse gases leading to climatic changes, fusion does not produce any carbon dioxide or other air pollutants.
Moreover, from a safety perspective, fusion possesses inherent safety features. Since controlled fusion can only occur at specific temperature and pressure conditions that are difficult to maintain outside the confinement system like tokamaks (doughnut-shaped magnetic vessels), any accidental breach would immediately extinguish the reaction, rendering it far less hazardous than traditional nuclear reactors.
Lastly, fusion reactors produce very little radioactive waste, and the generated waste is short-lived and less dangerous compared to the long-lived byproducts produced in fission reactions. This makes the management and disposal of fusion byproducts more straightforward.
However, despite decades of research worldwide, achieving a self-sustained fusion reaction that produces more energy than consumed (known as ignition) remains challenging. But considerable progress has been made in plasma confinement techniques, such as magnetic confinement using devices like tokamaks or stellarators. Several large-scale international projects are underway with the aim of making commercial fusion power a reality in the next few decades.