What’s the issue?
Nuclear fusion – the energy source of the stars – is the only primary energy source that humanity has not yet tapped. It could help meet the world’s growing demand for energy.
What’s the idea?
The Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) is researching the physical principles for a fusion power plant. The fusion fuel, a hydrogen plasma, is confined in a magnetic field to keep it away from the walls of the vacuum vessel. At over 100 million degrees Celsius, light atomic nuclei fuse together, releasing energy to generate electricity.
What potential does it offer?
Together with industrial partners and start-ups, we are pushing the boundaries of what is currently feasible. On the path towards harnessing the power of the sun here on Earth, basic research such as that carried out at IPP is crucial. The raw materials required for the fusion process are abundantly available. Moreover, fusion power plants promise favourable safety and environmental properties. Fusion could be a promising alternative to replace today's fossil fuels.
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