Fusion is arguably the perfect way to power the world. For one thing, there is enough fusion fuel to supply all of the world’s energy needs for millions of years. Furthermore, it produces no environmentally damaging wastes, no carbon dioxide emissions and there could be no accidents that require evacuating the population surrounding a fusion power plant. Fusion plants would also not need significant land area, and fusion fuels (lithium and deuterium) are available in seawater. Unfortunately, it is hard to make fusion work. Indeed, after more than 60 years of fusion research, no device has yet made more energy than it consumes.
Iter, the next fusion machine and the first to be built as an international collaboration, is designed to demonstrate the scientific feasibility of net energy production. It is expected that Iter will produce about 500MW of fusion power – 10 times the input power. Just as importantly, it will show how to integrate the many cutting-edge technologies required for efficient and reliable future power station designs. Put simply, it is the big step needed to prove the viability of fusion as a commercial energy source.
Unfortunately, Iter’s construction expenses have risen from about €5bn to over €13bn and the cost overruns have prompted some to questionw hy chasing nuclear fusion is a priority.
Stephen Cowley offers his opinion at the Guardian.
Nuclear Fusion explained at Wikipedia