The results demonstrate the ability to create fusion for five seconds, but longer times will be needed for the process to become viable as a conventional power source.
The results "are the clearest demonstration worldwide of the potential for fusion energy to deliver safe and sustainable low-carbon energy," the agency added in a statement. This is held in place using superconductor electromagnets as it spins around, fuses and releases tremendous energy as heat.The covert race for an artificial sun and unlimited energyPound for pound it releases nearly four million times more energy than burning coal, oil or gas, and creates virtually no waste.
"If we can maintain fusion for five seconds, we can do it for five minutes and then five hours as we scale up our operations in future machines," said Tony Donne of the EUROfusion consortium.