Science

Nuclear Fusion energy: harnessing the power of the stars

09:34 am on 22 February 2022

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Photo: UKAEA

Scientists are claiming a landmark in the process to create sustainable low carbon nuclear fusion energy, in an experiment which recreated the energy process that powers the stars.

The experiment, conducted by a team in Oxford in the UK only lasted a few seconds and created just enough energy to boil sixty kettles.

But in a JET reactor with a casing capable of withstanding temperatures similar to the heat of the middle of the sun, a record-breaking 59 megajoules of sustained fusion energy was created.

Scientists are calling it a breakthrough, in an experiment not attempted in a quarter of a century.

Kathryn speaks with Head of Fusion Science at European research consortium EUROfusion, Professor Volker Naulin who designed and ran the experiment.