Fusion Friday: This Week’s News
January 24, 2025
Things You Gotta Know
SMART Fusion Reactor Achieves First Plasma
The University of Seville's SMART (Small Aspect Ratio Tokamak) fusion reactor has successfully produced its first plasma. SMART's innovative design features a spherical tokamak with "negative triangularity," enhancing plasma stability and performance. This configuration aims to improve confinement and reduce damage to reactor walls, advancing the development of compact and efficient fusion power plants.
Enabling Technologies Carve Niches for Private Fusion Energy Companies
Over 55 private fusion energy companies worldwide are focusing on specialized enabling technologies to advance fusion power. Key areas include high-temperature superconducting magnets, advanced computing tools, and precise fuel target fabrication.
China's Fusion Reactor Advances with Cryogenic Pellet Fueling
Chinese scientists have developed a continuous cryogenic pellet injection system to enhance fueling in tokamak devices. This system addresses challenges related to cryogenic ice formation and aims to improve plasma performance by providing a consistent and efficient fuel supply.
AI Enhances Control of Fusion Plasma Instabilities
Researchers have employed artificial intelligence to manage plasma instabilities in fusion reactors more dynamically. By predicting and mitigating disruptions in real-time, AI enables more stable and sustained fusion reactions.
Private Sector Leverages AI in Fusion Energy Development
Private companies are making significant strides in nuclear fusion by integrating artificial intelligence into reactor design and operations. AI aids in optimizing plasma confinement, predicting system behaviors, and enhancing overall reactor performance.
Fusion Breakthrough Surpasses Greenwald Limit
A team at General Atomics has achieved a significant milestone by producing stable plasma at densities 20% higher than the Greenwald limit, a previously insurmountable barrier in fusion research. This accomplishment was achieved while maintaining superior plasma confinement, addressing a critical challenge in developing efficient and sustainable fusion reactors.
Supply Chain - Iron, Coke, and Fusion-Grade Steel
BY SHAUN WALSH
The critical role of fusion-grade steel in powering the future: The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has made a significant breakthrough by successfully demonstrating the industrial-scale production of fusion-grade steel. This achievement, which could reduce production costs by 10X and improve the efficiency of future fusion power plants, is a major step forward in the field of fusion energy and materials science.
Trump 2.0: The Senate Energy Committee and Members
BY MICHAEL HEUMANN
Senator Mike Lee takes the helm of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Mike Lee replaces (recent) independent Joe Manchin (W. Virginia) as the chairman of the Senate Energy Committee. Manchin is known for his support of the coal industry, which in spite of his efforts and those of the coal industry, continues to shrink. Lee, with the Senate, House of Representatives, and White House in the hands of Republicans, is expected to push even harder for new exploration of fossil fuel resources. He famously stated on X (formerly Twitter) last March that “I’m for clean energy. That’s why I support coal and natural gas.”, implying that both are sources of clean energy.
[On-Demand Webinar] 1M Fusion Jobs - Who Will Fill Them and Where
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