We can't get excited about nuclear fusion yet!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Earlier this month, an exhilarating and truly monumental experiment yielded some impressive results in a UK-based laboratory: nuclear fusion produced more energy than ever before, leaving the UK energy industry excited by the possibilities of ‘limitless energy’. And, whilst this is a fantastic development and something that absolutely should be celebrated, we can’t get too excited just yet!

The experiment, which took place in the JET laboratory here in the UK at the beginning of February, generated 69 megajoules over 5 seconds and comes after 40 decades of nuclear fusion research; the project initially launched in 1983.

Although exciting and certainly full of potential, it’s important to note that in real terms 69 megajoules is only enough energy for 4 or 5 hot baths and producing usable energy from nuclear fusion is therefore still a very, very long way away.

What’s more, nuclear fusion requires a tremendous amount of heat to generate usable energy. In fact, to successfully fuse atoms together here on earth requires temperatures 10 times hotter than the sun, around 100 million celsius; this, of course, also comes with a hefty price tag.

Alongside this, JET’s nuclear fusion project was largely funded by EU nuclear research programme, Euratom which, following the UK’s EU exit (Brexit) a few years ago, leaves the future role of the UK in European fusion research unclear and instead putting the onus of funding this research firmly in the hands of the UK government.

None of the above, however, has in any way deterred the UK government and, following this landmark experiment, our government have shared hopes to build the world's first fusion power plant in Nottinghamshire with operations beginning in the 2040s.

In short, this is a truly monumental success for nuclear fusion research and, indeed, the future of energy. However, the fruits of this experiment are surely not to be felt for at least another 15 - 20 years and, as such, it’s important that we do not lose sight of what we can do now to improve the UK’s energy security, drive down energy prices and reduce carbon emissions - i.e. ensure current renewable energy projects are supported to succeed.