Last year, two new structures were created in China to accelerate the energy of thermonuclear energy synthesis. These measures are aimed at commercial use of technology in the near future, not just scientific research. If the plans are made on a schedule, then by 2035 the prototype of an industrial thermonuclear reactor will operate in China, and by 2050 it is planned to build thermonuclear power plants throughout the country.
On December 29, 2023, a solemn event was held - starting a state -owned company China Fusion Energy Inc. This company will combine research and development in the field of fusion, which have previously been conducted by various scientific and private institutions. At the same time, a consortium was created, which brought together 25 organizations, including the Chinese National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). This consortium will solve key problems that complicate the introduction of thermonuclear synthesis in practice.
The creation of powerful organizations and the association of resources indicates that the central government of China considers the transition to thermonuclear energy important for industry and economy. To finance this project, a relevant fund was created, which is attended by both scientific organizations and state -owned companies, including China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation and State Grid Corporation of China.
13 members of the consortium were tasked with solving the first ten problems related to thermonuclear energy, such as the development of high -temperature superconducting magnets, materials for thermonuclear reactors and high -performance energy storage. The first steps are planned by 2035 for the construction of an industrial prototype of thermonuclear reactor and by 2050 to introduce technology on a wide scale.
Two scientific organizations will have a key contribution to this process: the Southwestern Physics Institute and the Plasma Physics Institute (IPP). China, having lingered in the race for thermonuclear energy, actively equalizes losses. From 2011 to 2022, China has submitted more patents in the field of thermonuclear synthesis than any other country.
In the summer of 2023, the HL-2A thermonuclear reactor generated a plasma with a current of more than 1 million AMPER in improved retention mode, and the experimental advanced superconducting Tomamak (EAST) became the first in the world to operate with the duration of 1056 seconds. This achievement allows Chinese scientists to hope to become pioneers in the introduction of practical thermonuclear synthesis and the creation of "artificial sun" on Earth.
