Fusion energy: U.S. announced a breakthrough

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Fusion energy

News Highlight

Fusion Energy breakthrough: the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), California, conducted a fusion test.

Key Takeaway

  • On December 13, American government authorities made a big deal out of a federal facility reaching a critical milestone in nuclear fusion research.
  • By accomplishing this, we move closer to having “zero-carbon abundant fusion energy power our society.
  • In a laser-based fusion experiment, researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California have gained energy for the first time.

Fusion Energy

  • About
    • Fusion is the energy that powers the stars.
    • The largest fusion reactor in our solar system is our Sun.
    • Atoms of hydrogen move incredibly fast in the Sun’s core. One heavier helium atom is created when two light hydrogen atoms combine.
    • The reaction releases lots of energy in the form of heat and light.
    • We need two kinds of hydrogen to replicate the fusion reaction: deuterium and tritium
    • But because they are both positively charged, they tend to repel one another.
    • Since the 1960s, researchers from more than 50 nations have attempted to duplicate it on Earth.
  • Why is nuclear fusion so important?
    • Nuclear fission generates a significant amount of radioactive waste, which can be hazardous and needs to be stored securely for an extended period.
    • Nuclear fusion waste has lower radioactivity and decays significantly more quickly.
    • Fossil fuels like gas and oil are not required for nuclear fusion. Additionally, it doesn’t produce greenhouse gases, which trap solar heat and cause climate change.
    • Furthermore, it has been referred to as energy production’s “holy grail.”
  • How does nuclear fusion work?
    • When two atoms of a light element, such as hydrogen, are heated and combined to form a heavier element.
    • Such as helium, the nuclear reaction produces massive amounts of energy which can be captured.
    • To get over this obstacle, a lot of energy is required.
    • In the Sun, this happens thanks to extremely high temperatures of around ten million degrees Celsius and significant pressure.
    • More than 100 billion times that of the Earth’s atmosphere.
    • Scientists have tried to replicate these conditions on Earth using a variety of different approaches.
    • But maintaining the required high temperature and pressure for a long enough period has proven challenging.

Merits of fusion energy

  • The fuel it requires is abundant everywhere on the planet, reducing the risk of geopolitical tension.
    • And, It is extracted from seawater and the crust of the earth
  • Fusion does not produce greenhouse emissions; therefore, we may act responsibly.
  • Furthermore, fusion machines are naturally safer, providing little harm to the local community and producing no long-lasting waste.
  • The energy produced has the potential to complement renewables by providing “baseload” electricity.

Could nuclear fusion help tackle global warming?

  • Firstly, no greenhouse gases are produced by nuclear fusion, which does not rely on fossil fuels like oil or gas and does not contribute to global warming.
  • And it is not reliant on suitable weather conditions like solar or wind energy.
  • Moreover, lithium and hydrogen, two relatively common elements on Earth, are used.
  • Nuclear fusion could play a significant role in helping nations reach their 2050 “net zero” emissions goals.

Conclusion

  • The energy they’ve generated in this experiment is tiny – just enough to boil a few kettles. But what it represents is huge.
  • The promise of a fusion-powered future is one step closer. But there’s still a long way to go before this becomes a reality.

Pic Courtesy:

Content Source: The Hindu

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Created on By Pavithra

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