Important Innovations

China Investing and Building a "Star in a Jar" Source:  China's Nuclear Fusion Reactor in Hefei, China China Targets 2040 for Nuclear Fusion Power Generation Nuclear fusion power generation is a source of clean, renewable energy.  The nuclear fusion of hydrogen into the heavier element helium is how the sun and stars have remained burning for billions of years.  That's why a nuclear fusion reactor is called a "star in a jar".  It is a powerful source of energy but with many technological barriers yet to be overcome. News now that China is funding and constructing their own star in a jar to generate clean electricity by around 2040. Artificial Sun China calls their Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak Reactor (East) the "Artificial Sun".  It's located in Hefei, Anhui province, China.  They are developing their experimental reactor to start generating electricity and commercializing it by 2040. China is a Leader in Renewable...

Hotter Than the Core of the Sun Source:  Tokamak Energy   Tokamak Energy In the United Kingdom, a private nuclear fusion company has heated a plasma of hydrogen to 27 million degrees Fahrenheit.  The company is Tokamak Energy.  Their achievement is a world first.  They hope to be the first to produce electricity from nuclear fusion commercially by 2030. Next Test Tokamak's new nuclear fusion reactor will be put to the test again in 2019.  They're going to heat the plasma to 180 million degrees Fahrenheit.  That will put the reactor within the operating temperature needed for controlled nuclear fusion. Star in a Jar Nuclear fusion reactors are called Star in a Jar.  The reason is the nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium is the main nuclear reaction that keeps the stars and sun burning for billions of years.  There are a number of companies in the US, Europe and Canada working on fusion reactors to provide power to the grid. Nucle...

 Nuclear Fusion Source:  Tokamak Energy - Nuclear Fusion Reactor Global Nuclear Fusion Projects with Promise It's hotter than the sun.  UK based Tokamak Energy wants to be the first in the world to produce commercial electricity from fusion power by 2030.  The company has heated a plasma of hydrogen to 27 million degrees in its new experimental reactor.  That temperature is hotter than the core of the sun.  In 2019, it's going to test the system at 180 million degrees. Why Nuclear Fusion May Be the Right Fit for Global Energy Needs Proponents say nuclear fusion could make other types of electricity generation obsolete.  The reason is it can produce large amounts of electricity from very small amounts of hydrogen.  A plant the size of the UK's Tokamak would produce 1 gigawatt of electricity a year.  That's enough to power 700,000 US homes. Renewable and Green Nuclear fusion has very little fuel needs.  Greenhouse emissi...

Lockheed-Martin's Compact Fusion Reactors Source: Lockheed-Martin Nuclear Reactor that Travel by Truck Lockheed-Martin has been quietly developing a game-changing compact nuclear fusion reactor.  They've patented the tech for potentially fitting it into a fighter jet.  Experts believe the potential for nuclear fusion tech is huge.  It could make other forms of electricity generation obsolete. Lockheed's reactor is so compact it can be transported by truck to locations in need of electricity. What's Nuclear Fusion and Why Call it a Star In A Jar? Here's an example and explainer.  UK based Tekamak Energy has heated a plasma of hydrogen to 27 million degrees fahrenheit within its own  reactor.  That's hotter than the core of the sun.  Essentially the reactors convert hydrogen into helium, then to electrical energy.  It's the same nuclear reaction that makes the sun and stars shine for billions of years. The process creates high volumes of el...