April 17, 2024

Fusion News

Leigh Ann Kesler, fusion consultant specializing in science communications, gives today’s Fusion News update. Watch for a summary of the latest in fusion energy worldwide. Links to the stories mentioned are included below. 1. Korea’s Artificial Sun Just Shattered a Fusion Record https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a60359873/kstar-fusion-reactor-plasma/ 2. Everett’s Helion eyes Central WA for groundbreaking energy venture https://www.heraldnet.com/news/everetts-helion-eyes-central-wa-for-groundbreaking-energy-venture/ 3. US, Japan announce partnership to accelerate nuclear fusion https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-japan-announce-joint-partnership-accelerate-nuclear-fusion-sources-2024-04-10/ 4. Americans Supportive but Misinformed About Fusion Energy's Promise https://ou.edu/news/articles/2024/april/americans-supportive-but-misinformed-about-fusion-energys-promise#:~:text=This%20first%2Dof%2Dits%2D,fusion%20energy%20in%20the%20U.S. 5. Max Planck spinout nets €20M to build ‘stellarator’ fusion machine https://thenextweb.com/news/german-startup-max-planck-proxima-fusion-stellarator Bonuses Supercomputer: https://interestingengineering.com/ie-originals/ie-explainer/season-10/can-dawn-supercomputer-deliver-green-fusion-energy Gates/Bezos: https://emagazine.com/bill-gates-jeff-bezos-excited-about-promise-of-nuclear-fusion/ Forbes on Fusion: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2024/04/08/nuclear-fusion-is-not-a-moonshot-but-an-attainable-goal/?sh=16484497494f EuroNews ITER: https://www.euronews.com/next/2024/03/26/inside-the-worlds-first-reactor-that-will-power-earth-using-the-same-nuclear-reaction-as-t Fusion-enhanced pulsed plasma propulsion drive: https://thedebrief.org/rocketstar-successfully-demonstrates-firestar-nuclear-fusion-enhanced-pulsed-plasma-propulsion-drive/ NPR podcast: https://www.npr.org/2024/03/15/1198909506/commercial-nuclear-fusion-clean-energy-helion-investment FIA 2024 Conference: https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/fia-hosts-2024-annual-policy-conference/ https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/nuclear-fusion-backers-meet-us-capital-competition-with-china-looms-2024-03-20/

March 20, 2024

Fusion News

Dr. Leigh Ann Kesler, engineer and fusion consultant specializing in science communication, gives an update on the global development of fusion energy. Links to all the stories mentioned are given below. 1. Inverting Fusion Plasmas Improves Performance https://phys.org/news/2024-03-inverting-fusion-plasmas.html 2. Tests show high-temperature superconducting magnets are ready for fusion https://news.mit.edu/2024/tests-show-high-temperature-superconducting-magnets-fusion-ready-0304 3. First Light Fusion hails success of initial test in Z Machine https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/First-Light-Fusion-hails-success-of-initial-test-i#:~:text=The%20UK's%20First%20Light%20Fusion,new%20pressure%20record%20for%20quartz. 4. Japan laser fusion startup seeks more partners https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/Japan-laser-fusion-startup-seeks-more-partners 5. Longview Fusion selects Fluor to design laser fusion plant https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newslongview-fusion-selects-fluor-to-design-laser-fusion-plant-11594517 Bonuses: Fusion Focus at Congressional Hearing on “ARPA-E’s role in Developing Breakthrough Technologies” https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/fusion-focus-at-congressional-hearing-on-arpa-es-role-in-developing-breakthrough-technologies/ New European Union Report Outlines New European Public-Private Partnerships for Fusion Energy https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/new-european-union-report-outlines-new-european-public-private-partnerships-for-fusion-energy/ Congress Increases U.S. Funding for Fusion Energy Sciences Research https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/congress-increases-u-s-funding-for-fusion-energy-sciences-research/

Fusion News: January 10, 2024

Jasmine Mund, a graduate mechanical engineer, gives the first fusion news update of 2024. Links to all the stories mentioned are included below. FIA 2024 Policy Conference - March 20-21, Washington DC: https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/fia-annual-conference-2024/ China Seeks Nuclear Fusion Leap Through New R&D Company: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-02/china-seeks-nuclear-fusion-leap-through-new-r-d-company 2. Sustained 'Artificial Sun' Promised by 2026 in Fusion Energy Upgrade: https://www.newsweek.com/sustained-artificial-sun-fusion-energy-1857042 3. Opening the Magnetic Bottle of a Tokamak Causes Particles to Rush Inward: https://www.energy.gov/science/fes/articles/opening-magnetic-bottle-tokamak-causes-particles-rush-inward#:~:text=Opening%20the%20Magnetic%20Bottle%20of%20a%20Tokamak%20Causes%20Particles%20to%20Rush%20Inward,-January%202%2C%202024&text=The%20evolution%20over%20time%20of,reduce%2C%20and%20the%20density%20increases. 4. JET to be repurposed after delivering final plasma: https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsjet-to-be-repurposed-after-delivering-final-plasma-11405916 5. US fusion energy dreams edge closer to reality, Congress permitting: https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/02/fusions_future_is_looking_bright/ Bonuses: 1. EU and Japan celebrate start of operations of the JT-60SA fusion reactor and reaffirm close cooperation on fusion energy: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/news/eu-and-japan-celebrate-start-operations-jt-60sa-fusion-reactor-and-reaffirm-close-cooperation-fusion-2023-12-01_en#:~:text=General%20for%20Energy-,EU%20and%20Japan%20celebrate%20start%20of%20operations%20of%20the%20JT,close%20cooperation%20on%20fusion%20energy&text=The%20EU%20and%20Japan%20have,located%20in%20Ibaraki%20Prefecture%2C%20Japan. 2. UKAEA awards £7.4m to develop lithium technologies for fusion: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukaea-awards-74m-to-develop-lithium-technologies-for-fusion#:~:text=UKAEA%20has%20awarded%20%C2%A37.4,sustainable%20fusion%20energy%20fuel%20cycle.&text=Lithium%20technologies%20are%20being%20developed,a%20fusion%20energy%20fuel%20cycle. 3. Inside the world's first reactor that will power Earth using the same nuclear reaction as the Sun: https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/12/26/inside-the-worlds-first-reactor-that-will-power-earth-using-the-same-nuclear-reaction-as-t 4. The need for fusion - with the UK Atomic Energy Authority: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_XZ-nh_Be4 5. Is nuclear fusion the future of clean energy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuOBR7t1mG8