In a remarkable leap from science fiction to science fact, commercial nuclear fusion has become a reality in less than a decade. The West’s political class, even those well-informed, is largely unaware of the transformative advancements in superconductors, lasers, and advanced materials that are reshaping the economics of fusion power.
Recent Breakthroughs:
First Light Fusion, a British company, shattered the world record for pressure at the Sandia National Laboratories in the US. They achieved a staggering 1.85 terapascal—five times the pressure at the Earth’s core.
Commonwealth Fusion Systems, based near Boston, broke the world record for a large-scale magnet with a field strength of 20 tesla. This breakthrough surpasses the threshold necessary for producing net energy (a “Q factor” above 1.0).
The Magnet Revolution:
Traditional low-temperature magnets, made of niobium alloys, operated near absolute zero at -270°C.
The new high-temperature superconducting magnets use rare earth barium copper oxide (ReBCO) and operate at 20 kelvins (20 K). This radical design combines superconductivity with extreme magnetic power, resulting in a “multiple order-of-magnitude increase” in fusion capability.
The cost per watt of a fusion reactor has been reduced by almost 40% due to these stronger magnets.
Changing the Narrative:
It’s time to discard the old joke that fusion is perpetually “30 years away.”
Polls indicate that insiders believe fusion will generate grid electricity at viable costs by 2035 (65%) and even more optimistically by 2040 (90%).
The Fusion Industry Association suggests that some members could achieve this milestone as early as 2030.
If these projections hold true, our energy assumptions need a serious rethink. Britain’s planned gas plants may become obsolete before they are even constructed.