Since the mid-20th century, scientists and engineers around the world have been working to harness the potential of fusion energy. Driven by the knowledge that success could revolutionise the energy system, they have pursued fusion’s tantalising potential to provide abundant around-the-clock electricity with minimal fuel inputs, no direct emissions and very little radioactive waste.
Recently, momentum behind the sector has been building. Government-led research programmes have achieved a series of technological milestones, and investment from the private sector has surged. Together, these developments have supported growing interest in the sector – although significant challenges still need to be overcome to make fusion power plants technically and economically feasible.
In this episode, we look at where fusion energy stands today and where it could be headed, based on interviews with four experts from across the industry: Alain Bécoulet, ITER’s Chief Scientist; Simon Bennett, an IEA analyst focused on energy innovation; Jennifer Ganten, the Chief Global Affairs Officer at Commonwealth Fusion Systems; and David Maisonnier, Chair of the IEA’s Fusion Power Coordinating Committee. They explain how fusion works, discuss the sector’s evolution, and outline the remaining questions that need to be answered before a power plant running on fusion energy is connected to the grid.