Fusion energy coming closer

As yesterday’s post showed one way to extend energy supplies is to use new techniques to extract more of an existing form of energy. Another solution is to develop new sources of energy. One that looks as though it might be closer to become feasible is nuclear fusion – generating energy by fusing atoms together. According to an article in New Scientist an experimental reactor is being built in the south of France:

“When completed in 2018, the reactor will fuse together two heavy isotopes of hydrogen to release vast quantities of energy. In theory, the result will be clean electricity galore with no carbon emissions and far less radioactive waste than today’s nuclear fission reactors leave behind.”

Although there are still formidable practical problems to overcome such reactors could provide unlimited, cheap energy in the not too distant future.