Jessica Orwig reports that ITER, Latin for The Way, and is expected to usher in a new era of nuclear fusion-powered electricity,something scientists and engineers have been working toward for over 40 years. By fusing two forms of hydrogen, called deuterium and tritium, together, the machine would generate 500 megawatts of power. That is 10 times more energy than it would require to operate. Once completed, ITER would measure 100 feet in diameter and height, representing a new breed of nuclear fusion device. If it reaches its energy output goals, it will be the first machine of its kind to bridge the gap from fusion research in the lab to readily available fusion power for cities. As of June 2015, construction costs for the machine exceeded $14 billion. But, in the end, experts say it will be worth it.
After all, nuclear fusion is the process that powers stars like our Sun and offers a number of advantages to current energy sources if we can harness that power here on Earth. Fusion generates non-radioactive waste that can be completely recycled within 100 years, unlike the toxic radioactive residue that today nuclear fission reactors produce. There is no chance of a runaway reaction because any malfunction would halt the fusion process, meaning that fusion reactors do not run the risk of a nuclear meltdown. It is a clean source of energy compared to coal, natural gas, and crude oil. Fusion reactors can run on seawater, offering a relatively renewable source of energy. Right now, the biggest issue is that fusion machines in operation today use more energy to run than they put out, which is the exact opposite of what you want from a power plant. But, read on ...
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