JumpStart - Physical Science

Fusion Energy*

About Fusion Energy

The process of nuclear fusion-evident in stars, including the Sun - releases enormous amounts of energy. It occurs when the nuclei of lighter elements (such as hydrogen) are fused together at extremely high temperatures and pressures to form heavier elements (such as helium). For almost 40 years - with intensive work started in the late 1970's - scientists have been working to develop practical methods for harnessing fusion reactions with the hope of realizing the potential of this energy source. Achieving the benefits of power from fusion, however, has proved to ba a difficult, long-term challenge.

Fusion energy is an important, albeit long-range element of the nation's energy strategy because of its many potential advantages as an energy resource. The successful application of practical fusion energy technologies at some point in the 21st century could help to enhance the Nation's energy, provide an environmentally acceptable alternative to fossil-fuel combustion, and help ensure continued economic growth through reliable electricity supply. Advanced research and development in fusion energy also could provide high-technology spin-offs in such areas as superconducting magnets; high speed computing; high-power lasers; electronic diagnostic equipment; and high-power, high-frequency radio sources.

The fuel for a fusion reactor consists of less common isotopes of hydrogen, which are readily available domestically and are essentially inexhaustible. The potential use of deuterium fuel (one heavy isotope of hydrogen) together with lithium to breed tritium could provide enough energy for thousands of years at current levels of world power demand.

The successful commercialization of fusion energy (which could be realized by the middle of next century) could ultimately change the overall pattern of electricity generation -- as fusion power plants replace those now fueled by nuclear fission and fossil fuels. Because fusion power plants would not produce air pollutants that contribute to acid rain and that may contribute to global climate change, they could minimize the environmental risks associated with the burning of fossil fuels and could substantially decrease demand for premium hydrocarbon fuels. Further, because fusion power plants would contain only small quantities of fuel at any time, they could eliminate the potential for runaway reactions that might lead to accidents. The development of low-activation materials or advanced fuel cycles for fusion reactors could make the amounts of high-level radioactive waste that result from fusion-produced energy far smaller than those produced by fission reactors -- thus simplifying waste disposal problems.

Fusion & the Environment

A Safe, Environmentally Sound Energy Source

The motivation for pursuing controlled fusion is not based solely on technological and economic factors. Widespread introduction of fusion energy power plants could substantially reduce the environmental impacts of increasing worldwide demands for electricity. A reliable and secure electricty supply could ensure that the energy needs associated with continuted economic growth are satisfied. The safety of fusion power plants would provide additional ecological benefits that should help to promote public interest in the goal of a substantial production capactity for fusion energy in the future. However, a number of issues associated with fusion power must be considered before controlled fusion can reach its potential as an environmentally benign source of energy.

Although the reaction products and most of the radioactivity induced in a fusion reactor vessel woulkd be short-lived, the use of fusion to generate power would still produce high-energy neutrons. Powerplant designs must incorporate materials that minimize the radioactivity induced by these neutrons. Such materials are being developed, but will require substantial testing with neutrons simulating a fusion environment before they can be used in fusion device. Special methods also will be needed for the efficient generation and recovery of tritium fuels, for the extraction of heat for electricity generation, and for refueling. While radioactive byproducts generated by a fusion power reactor should be considerably less than those from a conventional fission power reactor, the issues of radioactive waste and decommissioning associated with fusion still will need to be addressed.

The Cold Fusion Rise & Fall

Following the announcement of "cold fusion" in March 1989, researchers throughout the world, including those at Department of Energy laboratories, raced to verify the claims and to understand the underlying phenomena. Claims of scientific discovery require independent verification to establish a basis for understanding the underlying scientific phenomena and to explore the prospects for technology development. Throughout history, scientific advances have been subjected to, and have successfully withstood, this level of scrutiny. After exhaustive research, reports of "anomalous excess energy" and "anomalous nuclear effects" associated with the "cold fusion" claims have not been substantiated.

Research interest in "cold fusion" has dwindled dramatically since 1989. The most recent information on the disfavor into which the field of "cold fusion" has fallen comes from the New York Times website. On August 26, 1997, it was reported that the government of Japan said that it would terminate its research on cold fusion, which had failed to confirm that the phenomenon exists. It went on to state that "most governments and scientists in the United States and Europe had dismissed the concept as an illusion."

An extensive body of data and information on "cold fusion" resulted from the research following the March 1989 announcement. This information appears in scientific journals as well as the technical and popular press. Several books were published on the subject. Many consider the book "Bad Science -The Short Life and Weird Times of Cold Fusion," by Gary Taubes, to provide an accurate, comprehensive account of the history of "cold fusion."

PCAST Report (1995): In their report, the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology provided an excellent overview of the Benefits of Fusion R&D.

Fusion Basics: The U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory has created a quick guide to fusion.