Why a breakthrough in nuclear fusion in a US laboratory promises a new source of clean energy

US officials have announced a “major scientific breakthrough” thanks to a successful fusion experiment that could lead to a rich new source of clean energy.

For the first time, researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LNLL) in California have managed to extract more energy from a fusion reaction than was spent on it.

Scientists have been pursuing this goal, known as energy generation, for decades.

“This milestone will undoubtedly lead to new discoveries,” U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told a press conference Tuesday, announcing the successful experiment.

In an experiment at the LLNL National Ignition Center, 192 laser beams were fired from both ends of a cylinder at a nuclear fuel capsule.

Thermonuclear ignition was achieved. According to nuclear engineer Marvin Adams of the National Nuclear Security Administration, the capsule triggered a fusion reaction at its hottest point and released energy – an energy gain of about 1.5 megajoules.

Nuclear fusion is a process in which two atoms are squeezed together at extreme temperatures, which is the opposite of nuclear fission, where the atoms are pushed apart.

It has long been seen as a future source of carbon-free energy if its potential can be realized. But the leader of the successful team warned against unrealistic expectations.

“There are very big barriers not only in science but also in technology,” said Kim Boudil, director of LNLL. “That’s the basics, and to have commercial fusion power, you have to do a lot of things.

“You have to be able to generate a lot of fusion explosions per minute, and for that you need a reliable driver system.”

The scientist predicted that “with combined efforts and investment, several decades of research into basic technologies could allow us to build a power plant.”

The breakthrough has been praised by others in the field, including the US-based Fusion Industry Association (FIA). “Today’s announcement shows the world that fusion is not science fiction and will soon become a viable energy source,” said Andrew Holland, FIA CEO.

“There are still many steps between these experimental results and fusion power plants, but this is an important milestone. This will give governments around the world an additional incentive to support the development of commercial fusion power.”

Other scientists have suggested that realizing the field’s potential is a longer-term goal. Professor Jeremy Chittenden, a physicist at Imperial College London, told the BBC that experiments should be done much more frequently.

“We may have to run these experiments once a second,” he said. “And currently it’s a day between experiments.”

The development of the fusion industry will also require large investments, the allocation of land for new facilities and new rules for their management.

The FIA ​​claims that around $5bn (£4bn) has been raised through investors and government funds for companies working to supply energy through fusion.

However, Tuesday’s announcement marks a milestone for many of the scientists who have been working towards this goal for years.

The successful experiment was “a great example of what can be achieved with perseverance,” said White House science adviser Arati Prabhakar, adding that it was “an incredible engineering marvel.”