Savvy investors are always searching for the next big thing, whether it's blockchain, artificial intelligence, or space exploration. In the energy industry, one futuristic and idealistic idea is . Nuclear fusion is a reaction with the nuclear force where two or more nuclei combine to create different subatomic particles and release energy. It is basically the opposite of nuclear fission, known as splitting the atom. Nuclear fusion powers stars like the sun, and scientists believe the energy created could help generate electricity. Other potential benefits are the fact that the process yields no harmful gases or waste produced, cannot be used as a weapon, and carries low risks of power plant meltdowns. While fusion power in practice is still young and experimental, the first investors and early adopters are likely to help humans save the environment and make a tidy profit.
One firm is already working to develop nuclear fusion. General Fusion, founded in 2002 by physicist Michel Laberge, has already raised over $127 million from Amazon's (AMZN) Jeff Bezos, Microsoft (MSFT), and Canada's government. General Fusion uses hydrogen plasma fuel surrounded by liquid metal. The plasma is placed into a compression chamber and contained by magnets. Then pistons apply pressure to the chamber to increase temperature to 150 million degree Celsius and initiate fusion conditions. The liquid metal enters a heat exchanger where its heat is used to make electricity. General Fusion's next ambitious goal is to create a fusion reactor that will commercialize fusion power. The company said that though it has produced the components for a reactor, it needs at least five years to create a prototype. It will take even more time to further build large power plants that can power cities.
General Fusion is not the only involved nuclear fusion player. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor is a coalition of governments working on developing fusion using a device called the tokamak. Lockheed Martin (LMT) is developing a company reactor that will be 10 times smaller than a regular reactor and able to fit in a truck. Lockheed's process tries to mimic the sun's fusion. Seattle-based CTFusion just won a $3 million Energy Department grant to develop a commercial fusion reactor. China recently built an artificial sun and announced it will complete another one this year. Chinese researchers said their artificial sun will reach seven times the temperature of the sun's plasma. While all the efforts to transform the energy sector are exciting, fusion power still faces many challenges. First is economics, as fusion power is still not cost effective. Second is protecting reactor materials from the neutrons formed during fusion reactions. But big money is starting to discover the awesome potential of fusion power.
The author does not own any positions in any of the securities above.
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