See full analysis Learn more Fusion Many expect no viable form of fusion energy to be available until at least 2050. Fusion power could replace fossil fuels and conventional nuclear reactors. Billionaires including Jeff Bezos expect a major step toward commercially viable fusion in 2016. The new crop of fusion reactors appearing around the world will continue to play crucial roles in the chase for fusion. Fusion scientists expect ion beams to be part of the mix of plasma heating techniques. The long quest in the U.S. to mimic the sun's mighty power by mastering nuclear fusion has added a new goal - the development of compact, affordable fusion reactors that could be widely deployed by utilities in the century's second half. The world's largest nuclear fusion project began its five-year assembly phase on Tuesday in southern France, with the first ultra-hot plasma expected to be generated in late 2025. Engineers started construction of the world's largest nuclear fusion project in southern France, with operations planned to begin in late 2025. The UK government plans to increase public R&D investment to £22bn per year by 2024-25, investing in people, ideas and industries in sectors including nuclear fusion and electric vehicles. Leadership in key technologies - The government will invest over £900 million to ensure UK businesses are leading the way in high-potential technology and sectors, including nuclear fusion, space, electric vehicles, and life sciences. £800 million is going to set up a new high-risk high-reward UK research agency modelled on the American Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and £900 million to supporting nuclear fusion technology, the National Space Strategy and Space Innovation Fund, and the e-vehicle supply chain. China plans to land humans on the Moon by 2030 and begin mining Helium-3, a valuable isotope used in nuclear fusion that the Moon has in abundance. A tokamak, like the huge one that will reach 200 million Celsius in China next year, is a nuclear fusion plasma reactor where extremely hot, charged plasma spins and generates virtually limitless energy. The UK will accelerate efforts to realise nuclear fusion energy through investment in a new UK fusion reactor design programme, known as STEP, which aims to deliver the world's first commercially viable fusion power plant by 2040. A virtually infinite source of energy, the controlled nuclear fusion of hydrogen, will probably be tapped within 50 years. An international research team believes that, with a new approach, nuclear fusion could be only 15 years away from being hooked up to a national energy grid. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge will work with a private firm to develop technology for producing energy from nuclear fusion within the next 15 years. Nuclear fusion could be the best future source to obtain great amounts of electric energy. Scientists in Germany have switched on a nuclear fusion experiment that they hope will provide a solution to finding clean and safe nuclear power. A new method for optimising the initiation of nuclear fusion reactions could mark a major step forward in the development of commercial fusion power. Last updated: 17 January 2021 Hi, Would you like a quick online demo of our service from an experienced member of our team? Yes No