Why we don't have fusion power plants yet, and what it'll take to get clean, limitless energy to market

Sun, 10/29/2023 - 08:19

The National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U), a large circular device surrounded by a platform and steps leading to it — The National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U) at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.
Elle Starkman, PPPL

It's been almost 90 years since scientists made the first fusion reaction in a lab.
But trying to create power from fusion presents a lot of problems.
Two experts explain how long it could take until fusion power plants are possible.

Over the past year, nuclear fusion experiments at the National Ignition Facility achieved a huge milestone when their reactions yielded more energy than they put into it.