Fusion Power

Recent breakthroughs in waste- and emissions-free fusion energy could help to eliminate the drawbacks of fission-based nuclear power and solve critical questions about global energy needs. While practical fusion energy is still likely decades away, U.S. National Ignition Facility scientists successfully generated energy in a series of fusion reactions in 2023 and 2024. These experiments have doubled the energy output of the initial breakthrough in 2022, demonstrating continued advancements in the field.

Recent years have seen a surge in investment in nuclear fusion technology from tech companies. Fusion power represents a limitless and clean energy source that could meet the significant power needs of artificial intelligence (AI). In return, AI can contribute to advancing the research and development of fusion power.

In 2022, the Biden administration announced plans to build the world's first commercial fusion energy plant within a decade. While ambitious, advancements within this timeline could be key to addressing the climate crisis, as scalable and practical fusion power could likely outcompete all of the existing energy sources in use today. Planners should take note of developments in this field, as the realization of fusion power will have a transformative impact on their communities and the world.