In a groundbreaking announcement at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry revealed the nation's readiness to collaborate with other governments in the research and development of nuclear fusion. Fusion, often considered the "holy grail" of energy, could offer a nearly limitless supply of carbon-free electricity by fusing atomic nuclei. Kerry emphasized the importance of careful consideration and thoughtful policy to address the significant scientific and engineering challenges on the road to a fusion-powered reality.

The announcement marks a significant milestone, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of a breakthrough in nuclear fusion technology at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. Achieving "ignition" through a fusion reaction, scientists demonstrated the potential to generate more energy than required to initiate the process, using lasers at the world's largest laser fusion facility, the National Ignition Facility in Livermore.

The Biden administration's support for U.S.-based fusion research, announced in March 2022, laid the foundation for this international collaboration. Kerry outlined five areas of cooperation: research, supply chain, regulation, workforce issues, and public engagement. This initiative follows the recent U.S.-UK partnership to accelerate global fusion energy development and ongoing collaboration on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project in France.

CEO of TAE Technologies, Michl Binderbauer, expressed gratitude for the White House's support, highlighting the company's unique approach using hydrogen-boron, a safe and sustainable fuel. Binderbauer emphasized the potential for fusion to provide affordable, reliable power globally without environmental damage or geopolitical conflict.

Source: powermag.com