China Aims for Aggressive Nuclear Fusion Goal by 2030

China Sets Prominent Nuclear Fusion Goal for 2030

The Chinese nuclear fusion project, Xinghuo, is making waves in the world of energy science. Developed by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), Xinghuo is planned for construction on Yaohu Science Island in central China. With an estimated cost of $2.76 billion, this fusion-fission power plant aims to achieve an energy gain factor (Q) of more than 30, a feat unprecedented in the field.

While the huge ITER tokamak collaboration has a goal of a Q factor of 10 or greater, and the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in the United States managed a significant result with a Q of 1.5, Xinghuo aspires to surpass these milestones.

The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) in China has already set a new world record for maintaining steady-state high-confinement plasma for 1,066 seconds earlier this year. This record-breaking achievement surpassed the previous record of 403 seconds set by EAST itself.

Nuclear fusion, the process that powers stars, has not yet been made efficient enough for net-positive energy production in Earth-based reactors. However, Xinghuo, unlike purely fusion reactors like the NIF, will be a fusion-fission plant. This combination of two energy production technologies offers a promising path towards practical fusion energy.

In the realm of fusion science, the NIF's net energy gain achievement was a major step forward. However, it's important to note that this achievement did not account for the power "from the wall" necessary to power up the lasers used in the reaction.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom's JET tokamak produced 69.26 megajoules of energy in 2023, exceeding the 59 megajoules produced by the NIF's earlier achievement. Yet, the record-breaking JET figure was still a net loss, unlike the Department of Energy's achievement that produced net gain in its fusion reaction.

As Xinghuo moves forward, it is undergoing an environmental impact assessment, which is expected to wrap up by the end of the year. The construction of this groundbreaking reactor is a significant step towards a potential future where nuclear fusion could become a viable and sustainable energy source.

The promise of nuclear fusion as a power source has long been likened to a branch that is always just out of reach. Yet, projects like Xinghuo, along with those in the United States and elsewhere, are laying the groundwork for the world's energy future. The race is on to harness the power of nuclear fusion, and Xinghuo is a key player in this global endeavour.