Fusion energy, the process that powers the sun, has long been a tantalizing goal for scientists seeking a clean and virtually limitless energy source. In December 2022, researchers at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in California achieved a significant milestone by producing more energy from a fusion reaction than was used to initiate it. This breakthrough demonstrated the potential of fusion as a viable energy source. science.org
Building on this success, international collaborations are accelerating the development of fusion technology. The ITER project in France, a 35-nation collaboration, is constructing the world's largest tokamak reactor, aiming to produce 500 megawatts of fusion power by the late 2030s. Similarly, the Wendelstein 7-X facility in Germany has achieved record-breaking plasma confinement times, moving closer to continuous fusion reactions. iaea.org, en.wikipedia.org