Merged How Close is power from Nuclear Fusion

[The Atheist]

It's ok, people, we now have the answer to the OP.

The companies aim to create the first “utility-scale fusion power plant” in 2026.

The issue has clearly been solved and it's full steam ahead for fusion power. Everyone else can shut up shop now - I'll tell the bros in Wellington.

The company saying they'll have fusion power next year is tied to America's greatest president, so we can be assured this is all 10,000% legit.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/business/trump-media-tae-technologies-fusion-power-deal.html

 

[3point14]

Anyone interested in an optimistic take on the prospects of fusion power can listen to this episode of The Infinite Monkey Cage.

BBC Radio 4 - The Infinite Monkey Cage, Series 34, Fusion – Ria Lina, Yasmin Andrew and Howard Wilson

Brian Cox and Robin Ince join forces to tackle the hot topic of nuclear fusion.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

With progress like this, we''ll be powering up in a couple of decades.

Tokamak regime sustains stable fusion plasma for one minute while easing heat loads​

https://phys.org/news/2026-04-tokamak-regime-sustains-stable-fusion.html

 

[shemp]

Only 49 years and 364 days to go.

 

[Steve]

50 years ago, in my 20's I expected to see it in my lifetime. Ain't gonna happen.

 

[novaphile]

50 years ago, in my 20's I expected to see it in my lifetime. Ain't gonna happen.

Yeah, I remember my last greatest disappointment in this field.

"Produces more power than was input."

(As long as you don't count the power that was input.)

 

[The Atheist]

The company saying they'll have fusion power next year is tied to America's greatest president, so we can be assured this is all legit.

Nearly halfway through '26, so it must be coming online soon.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

More progress!!!!!

Scientists May Have Solved Two of Fusion Energy’s Biggest Problems at Once

Scientists have demonstrated a new plasma operating regime that could help solve two of fusion energy’s biggest challenges at once.

scitechdaily.com

Any day year decade now.

 

[shemp]

More progress!!!!!

Scientists May Have Solved Two of Fusion Energy’s Biggest Problems at Once

Scientists have demonstrated a new plasma operating regime that could help solve two of fusion energy’s biggest challenges at once.

scitechdaily.com

Any day year decade century now.

FTFY

 

[arthwollipot]

More progress!!!!!

Yes. It's progress. More progress is required, but this is definitely progress.

 

[Darat]

Whist from an increasing human knowledge perspective I am all for the research being done but have fusion power plants missed their chance?

 

[arthwollipot]

Whist from an increasing human knowledge perspective I am all for the research being done but have fusion power plants missed their chance?

A really good question. It's possible.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

A really good question. It's possible.

Or, then again, "all" that's really required is a sustainable controlled reaction with a positive energy output and the engineering required to extract the energy and turn it into electricity.

I'm not sure that all the "progress" we've seen over the last half-century has gotten us anywhere close. But hope springs eternal.

 

[W.D.Clinger]

But hope springs eternal.

Optimists can still purchase a home in Hope Springs, Idaho.

Eternal? Time will tell. For now, they look like pretty nice houses, all built within the past 6 years, but most appear to be powered by natural gas. Gas furnaces are expected to last for about 20 years. When they wear out, will they be replaced by a fusion reactor? Would a fusion reactor even fit within the space currently occupied by a furnace?

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Optimists can still purchase a home in Hope Springs, Idaho.

Eternal? Time will tell. For now, they look like pretty nice houses, all built within the past 6 years, but most appear to be powered by natural gas. Gas furnaces are expected to last for about 20 years. When they wear out, will they be replaced by a fusion reactor? Would a fusion reactor even fit within the space currently occupied by a furnace?

Ah. So what you are looking for is the production of artificial natural gas..

Easy-peesey. Just use the electric power produced by your fusion power station to combine Hydrogen and Carbon Dioxide to create Methane and pump it through he existing pipes.

It really is only a question of engineering.

 

[arthwollipot]

I'm not sure that all the "progress" we've seen over the last half-century has gotten us anywhere close. But hope springs eternal.

It's gotten us closer than we were a half-century ago.

 

[theprestige]

It's weird because we know fusion is real. We know it has a net positive energy budget. It seems absurd, to think we cannot eventually engineer the necessary conditions to get it going and harness the result.

 

[Planigale]

As I have previously pointed out the benefit of fusion technology will be the limitless supply of helium, we'll all be able to float to work in our personal blimps and talk in a squeaky voice whenever we want. The natural gas pipelines can be converted to deliver helium to every home!

 

[theprestige]

As I have previously pointed out the benefit of fusion technology will be the limitless supply of helium, we'll all be able to float to work in our personal blimps and talk in a squeaky voice whenever we want. The natural gas pipelines can be converted to deliver helium to every home!

Ha ha. That's funny.

 

[rjh01]

Only trouble is that the amount of helium produced would be measured in the grams, not kilograms.