· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euractiv or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Nuclear fusion, a lesser-known energy source, is gaining political and research traction as Europe seeks clean and secure energy solutions
• While fusion presents a virtually limitless and clean energy potential, it remains costly and technically challenging, sparking debates about its feasibility
🔭 The context: Fusion, unlike nuclear fission, combines atomic nuclei to generate energy, promising greater efficiency with minimal waste
• Europe's ITER project in France leads global fusion research, but commercial viability is decades away
• Other research breakthroughs have occurred in the UK, U.S., Germany, and China
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Fusion has the potential to produce massive amounts of clean energy without greenhouse gases or long-lived radioactive waste
• If successful, it could greatly reduce Europe's reliance on fossil fuels and contribute to the fight against climate change
⏭️ What's next: Fusion's commercial potential depends on continued investment and technological breakthroughs
• Europe faces a choice: invest heavily in fusion or focus on existing renewable technologies like wind and solar, which are already making an impact in cutting emissions
💬 One quote: “Fusion could provide four million times more energy per kilogram of fuel compared to coal combustion.” — International Atomic Energy Agency
📈 One stat: Over $6 billion has been invested in fusion technologies globally, with over 40 companies pursuing diverse methods to harness this energy source
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