The U.S. Department of Energy chose Princeton’s Plasma Physics Laboratory to lead the United States’ participation in an international fusion energy project known as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). “We wanted to do it because it gives us an intellectual role in planning this experiment and making sure it succeeds,” said Robert Goldston GS ’77, director of the plasma physics lab. “This is very important for the future of fusion energy.” In what Goldston described as an “amazing step” towards the development of nuclear fusion, ITER aims to construct the first device capable of producing self-sustaining burning plasma—the substance necessary for nuclear fusion to take place—for significant periods of time. [ more ] They don’t expect to have a working demonstration until 2050. I feel that Fussion is the future for our energy needs, but we are a long way away from that reality. This is why we need to look for options like hydrogen or other renewables that can hold us over until then.
