Japan has achieved a significant milestone in the pursuit of clean and limitless power with the launch of the world’s largest operational experimental nuclear fusion reactor, the JT-60SA. Unlike traditional nuclear fission, which splits atomic nuclei, fusion replicates the sun’s energy production by merging two nuclei, potentially offering a safer and more abundant energy source. The six-story-high tokamak is designed to contain and control plasma heated to a remarkable 200 million degrees Celsius. The primary objective is to explore the viability of fusion as a secure, expansive, and carbon-neutral net energy source.
This joint venture between the European Union and Japan precedes the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) under construction in France. Both projects aim to achieve net energy gain from fusion, revolutionizing global energy systems. Over 500 scientists, engineers, and 70 companies from Europe and Japan collaborated on the JT-60SA, making it a significant milestone in fusion history.
The successful pursuit of net energy gain from fusion at the National Ignition Facility in the United States adds optimism to the JT-60SA’s potential contributions. Fusion energy stands out for its safety advantages over fission, eliminating the risk of catastrophic accidents and minimizing radioactive waste generation.
The inauguration of JT-60SA was praised by EU energy commissioner Kadri Simson as “the most advanced tokamak in the world,” projecting fusion’s potential central role in the global energy mix later this century. As nations worldwide grapple with climate change and seek alternatives to carbon-emitting fossil fuels, the progress of JT-60SA offers a promising glimpse into a future where clean, unlimited power becomes a reality.
