Editing Nuclear power (section)

=== Fusion ===
[[File:U.S. Department of Energy - Science - 425 003 001 (9786811206).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Schematic of the [[ITER]] [[tokamak]] under construction in France]]
{{Main|Nuclear fusion|Fusion power}}
[[Fusion power|Nuclear fusion]] reactions have the potential to be safer and generate less radioactive waste than fission.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Roth |first1=J. Reece |title=Introduction to fusion energy |date=1986 |publisher=Ibis Pub |location=Charlottesville, Va. |isbn=978-0-935005-07-3}}</ref><ref name="WorldEnergyCouncil">{{cite web |last1=Hamacher |first1=T. |last2=Bradshaw |first2=A. M. |name-list-style=amp |date=October 2001 |title=Fusion as a Future Power Source: Recent Achievements and Prospects |url=http://www.worldenergy.org/wec-geis/publications/default/tech_papers/18th_Congress/downloads/ds/ds6/ds6_5.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040506065141/http://www.worldenergy.org/wec-geis/publications/default/tech_papers/18th_Congress/downloads/ds/ds6/ds6_5.pdf |archive-date=2004-05-06 |access-date=2010-09-16 |publisher=World Energy Council}}</ref> These reactions appear potentially viable, though technically quite difficult and have yet to be created on a scale that could be used in a functional power plant. Fusion power has been under theoretical and experimental investigation since the 1950s. [[Nuclear fusion]] research is underway but fusion energy is not likely to be commercially widespread before 2050.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 October 2019 |title=A lightbulb moment for nuclear fusion? |language=en |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/27/nuclear-fusion-research-power-generation-iter-jet-step-carbon-neutral-2050-boris-johnson |access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Entler |first1=Slavomir |last2=Horacek |first2=Jan |last3=Dlouhy |first3=Tomas |last4=Dostal |first4=Vaclav |date=1 June 2018 |title=Approximation of the economy of fusion energy |journal=Energy |language=en |volume=152 |pages=489–497 |doi=10.1016/j.energy.2018.03.130 |s2cid=115968344 |issn=0360-5442|doi-access=free |bibcode=2018Ene...152..489E }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nam |first1=Hoseok |last2=Nam |first2=Hyungseok |last3=Konishi |first3=Satoshi |date=2021 |title=Techno-economic analysis of hydrogen production from the nuclear fusion-biomass hybrid system |journal=International Journal of Energy Research |language=en |volume=45 |issue=8 |pages=11992–12012 |doi=10.1002/er.5994 |issn=1099-114X |s2cid=228937388|doi-access=free |bibcode=2021IJER...4511992N }}</ref>

Several experimental nuclear fusion reactors and facilities exist. The largest and most ambitious international nuclear fusion project currently in progress is [[ITER]], a large [[tokamak]] under construction in France. ITER is planned to pave the way for commercial fusion power by demonstrating self-sustained nuclear fusion reactions with positive energy gain. Construction of the ITER facility began in 2007, but the project has run into many delays and budget overruns. The facility is now not expected to begin operations until the year 2027 – 11 years after initially anticipated.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Gibbs |first=W. Wayt |date=2013-12-30 |title=Triple-threat method sparks hope for fusion |journal=Nature |volume=505 |issue=7481 |pages=9–10 |bibcode=2014Natur.505....9G |doi=10.1038/505009a |pmid=24380935 |doi-access=free}}</ref> A follow on commercial nuclear fusion power station, [[DEMOnstration Power Station|DEMO]], has been proposed.<ref name="ITERorg">{{cite web |title=Beyond ITER |url=http://www.iter.org/Future-beyond.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107220145/http://www.iter.org/Future-beyond.htm |archive-date=2006-11-07 |access-date=2011-02-05 |website=The ITER Project |publisher=Information Services, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory}} – Projected fusion power timeline.</ref><ref name="EFDA_Activities">{{cite web|url=http://www.efda.org/about_efda/downloads/EFDAoverview.ppt |title=Overview of EFDA Activities |website=www.efda.org |publisher=[[European Fusion Development Agreement]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061001123645/http://www.efda.org/about_efda/downloads/EFDAoverview.ppt |archive-date=2006-10-01 |access-date=2006-11-11 }}</ref> There are also suggestions for a power plant based upon a different fusion approach, that of an [[inertial fusion power plant]].

Fusion-powered electricity generation was initially believed to be readily achievable, as fission-electric power had been. However, the extreme requirements for continuous reactions and [[plasma containment]] led to projections being extended by several decades. In 2020, more than 80 years after [[Timeline of nuclear fusion#1930s|the first attempts]], commercialization of fusion power production was thought to be unlikely before 2050.<ref name="ITERorg" /><ref name="fusion2"/><ref name="fusiongua"/><ref name="fusion3"/><ref name="fusion4"/>

To enhance and accelerate the development of fusion energy, the [[United States Department of Energy]] (DOE) granted $46 million to eight firms, including [[Commonwealth Fusion Systems]] and [[Tokamak Energy]] Inc, in 2023. This ambitious initiative aims to introduce pilot-scale fusion within a decade.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-announces-46-million-funds-eight-nuclear-fusion-companies-2023-05-31/ |title=US announces $46 million in funds to eight nuclear fusion companies |date=31 May 2023 |access-date=13 June 2023 |archive-date=9 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609110155/https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-announces-46-million-funds-eight-nuclear-fusion-companies-2023-05-31/ |url-status=live }}</ref>