MIT Advances Toward Realizing Fusion Energy Technology

In a significant development, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and spinoff company Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) have announced a major public-private collaboration to design a fusion reactor capable of producing more power than it consumes. This ambitious project, named SPARC, is set to revolutionize the energy landscape and potentially address the urgent issue of climate change.

Kerry Emanuel, the Cecil and Ida Green Professor in Earth and Planetary Sciences at MIT, emphasized the urgency for fusion power due to the existential threat posed by climate change. Human civilization, he pointed out, has developed during a period of exceptional climate stability, and a 1-meter change in sea level today could be very problematic for humanity.

The SPARC project's goal is to create a prototype fusion device with a net power output within the next 15 years. To achieve this, the team, led by CFS CEO Bob Mumgaard and nuclear physicist Anne White from the PSFC, will focus on designing and manufacturing the large superconducting magnet assemblies needed for a working fusion demonstration device.

The fusion research landscape is vibrant and evolving, with a lot of interplay. According to Mumgaard, MIT and CFS have changed the narrative with their innovative approach to designing a compact, lower-cost power plant architecture that can be built faster and more efficiently. This innovative approach is expected to bring about practical fusion power on a faster timescale than any previous efforts.

The project's aim, as stated by Dennis Whyte, head of MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center, is "to try to get to fusion energy a lot faster." The collaboration is not alone, as there are about 20 companies actively involved in such fusion research. However, only three large countries have successfully shifted their economies away from fossil fuels, and all of those did so largely on the strength of hydropower and nuclear power.

Andrew Lo, the Charles E. and Susan T. Harris Professor of Economics at MIT's Sloan School of Management, suggested that new kinds of funding mechanisms may be needed for large projects like the development of practical fusion power plants. The SPARC project aligns perfectly with the reasons The Engine was created, a program founded by MIT that aims to help projects requiring long-range thinking, such as the SPARC project (up to 18 years), whose development doesn't fit into the 10-year expectation for a financial return that is typical of venture capital funds.

The collaboration between institutions involved in fusion research is growing, offering joint research efforts, expert networking, and coordinated development of next-generation reactors and fusion devices. Institutions currently involved include leading universities such as the Danish Technical University (DTU) collaborating on projects like Tokamak North, research organizations focusing on fusion and fission technologies, and technical societies such as the Kerntechnische Gesellschaft (KTG) facilitating expert exchange.

Lo stated that investments of the order of a billion dollars in various potential approaches are needed to maximize the odds of success. Once the team's demonstration device proves that it is possible to produce more power than the device consumes, "the narrative changes at that moment," according to White. This breakthrough could mark a significant step towards a sustainable, clean energy future.

In conclusion, the SPARC project represents a promising endeavour in the pursuit of practical fusion power. If successful, it could provide a much-needed solution to the existential threat of climate change and pave the way for a more sustainable energy future.