In the realm of energy production, the meteoric rise of fusion technology over the last decade has captured both public imagination and considerable investmentStarting in 2017, a journey that focused on compact fusion technology has unfolded in China, led by the innovation-driven New Hope GroupThe company, with over three decades of established expertise in the conventional energy sector, has invested billions in developing and commercializing fusion technologyThis significant commitment has materialized through various initiatives, including the design and construction of China's first medium-sized spherical tokamak, dubbed “Xuanlong-50,” which marks a pivotal step towards practical fusion energy generation.

Xuanlong-50 entered operational status in 2019, laying the groundwork for the subsequent upgrade to Xuanlong-50U, which debuted in early 2023. Aiming to position itself among the leading international magnetic confinement experimental platforms, Chinese scientists view this as crucial for achieving commercial fusion energy by 2035. Such progress signals a new era in energy technology—one that aligns with global efforts to harness cleaner and more sustainable energy sources for the future

The world is eagerly pondering the potential of fusion, given its rich fuel resources and promises of safety, cleanliness, and high efficiency.

Despite the allure, pursuing commercial fusion has not been without obstaclesThe field has historically gravitated towards deuterium-tritium (D-T) fusion as the most promising pathway, yet it presents various challengesTritium production is severely limited, as it naturally occurs in minuscule amounts and cannot simply be extracted from the Earth; its procurement is costly and fraught with complicationsFurthermore, tritium's radioactive nature, combined with the byproducts emitted during fusion reactions, raises safety and environmental concernsRealizing these complexities, New Hope has chosen to take an unconventional route by pursuing hydrogen-boron (H-B) fusion, a fuel source that demands exploration for its potential advantages.

On November 15, a microscopic timeline in the vast journey of fusion research unfolded at the New Hope Group's Fusion Technology Research and Development Center located in Hebei's Langfang Economic and Technological Development Zone

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Here, shortly after Xuanlong-50U was activated, administrators commenced daily experiments aimed at stabilizing plasma within controlled settingsThe facility's central control room showcased real-time operational data—plasma temperatures soaring past ten million degrees Celsius, monitored by complex magnetic containment systemsThis meticulous orchestration underscored a bold step towards repeatable and stable plasma discharges, a breakthrough achieved ahead of scheduleBy August, Xuanlong-50U had successfully met critical performance indicators, validating its upgraded capabilities.

According to Liu Minsheng, the director of the New Hope Energy Research Institute, the central mission behind Xuanlong-50U is to refine plasma stability and explore the physical attributes and engineering value of devices when subjected to extreme operational parametersThis foundational work is essential in paving the way for the upcoming H-Long-2 device, which is expected to undertake scientific feasibility validations for the H-B fusion reaction sooner than planned

The rapid progress observed with Xuanlong-50U has accelerated the R&D timeline, unlikely for any other energy advancement project.

Fusion, in essence, occurs when two lighter atomic nuclei merge to form a heavier nucleus, releasing abundant energy in the processThis principle underlies the energy produced by the sun, leading to the colloquial term “artificial sun” when discussing controllable nuclear fusionThe variety of technological pathways in pursuit of fusion energy—including magnetic confinement tokamak D-T fusion, Z-pinch fusion, and magnetic confinement spherical toroidal H-B fusion—reflects the multifaceted landscape of ongoing research effortsEach of these paths carries distinct advantages, challenges, and strategic glimmers of hope as engineers and scientists collectively seek workable solutions.

The choice of fusion fuel significantly impacts the viability of respective fusion pathways

While D-T remains predominant in global experimental fusion endeavors, alongside other combinations like D-D and D-He, significant hurdles persistThe challenges include high-energy neutron releases and raw material scarcity that hamper not just scientific investigation but also broader commercialization efforts.

To advance its research in a competitive field, New Hope Group boldly selected the H-B fusion technology routeThis choice centers on achieving a zero-neutron, zero-radioactive byproduct process through the implementation of a spherical tokamak design aimed at making experimental setups more efficientYang Yuanming, the deputy chief engineer for fusion at New Hope Energy Research Institute, explained that the abundant availability of hydrogen and boron as fuel sources, which can be utilized directly for electricity generation, underscores a compelling efficiency potentialThe streamlined energy conversion could theoretically minimize energy loss, representing a key advancement in output efficacy.

However, Liu Minsheng candidly pointed out that the primary challenge with H-B fusion lies in its stringent reaction conditions, presenting formidable technical hurdles

With the group’s vast experience in the low-carbon energy sector since 2017, New Hope has devoted substantial efforts towards establishing the commercial feasibility of this ambitious ventureThe timeline commits to achieving H-B commercialization by 2035, guided not just by vision, but expansive collaboration.

Liu's team looks to other global leaders in fusion energy, recognizing ongoing testing of magnetic confinement H-B reactions in Japan and the United StatesThere remains a need to uncover the scientific feasibility of H-B fusion gain, a mission poised for the next-generation H-Long-2 device, complemented by robust partnership networks among academic institutions, research centers, and industry giants that bolster mutual development.

Stepping deeper into the waters of fusion development demands heightened resources and investmentCurrent funding exceeds hundreds of millions in exploration, with anticipated doubling in financial commitments for H-Long-2's intended trajectory

These investments are tailored toward addressing engineering scaling challenges and enhancing energy yield during spiraling behavior in H-B reactions, with ambitions sky-high for successfully establishing commercial demonstration operations by 2035.

Interestingly, while the capital costs for traditional energy systems often center around fuel, the anticipated expenses for H-B fusion may be remarkably less burdensome due to ultra-low resource requirementsAs Liu notes, presently, scientific verification remains the crux of the journey“Only if we validate scientific feasibility on H-Long-2 can we confidently propagate commercialization efforts by 2035, immensely easing subsequent endeavors.”

As the end of 2023 approached, a significant milestone emerged with the establishment of the National Controlled Nuclear Fusion Innovation Consortium, orchestrated by China National Nuclear Corporation