The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) nuclear fusion reactor developed by China has set a new world record, marking another milestone in the pursuit of limitless clean energy. During the week of Jan. 19, the reactor, dubbed an “artificial sun,” maintained a steady loop of super-hot plasma for 1,066 seconds, surpassing its previous record of 403 seconds.

Why is this nuclear fusion record important?

EAST is a magnetic confinement reactor designed to keep the plasma within it burning for prolonged periods, a necessary step for future reactors aiming to generate electricity.

Nuclear fusion reactors like EAST mimic the energy generation process of the sun by fusing light atoms into heavier ones under extreme heat and pressure.

Unlike the sun, which operates under high pressure, reactors on Earth compensate with temperatures many times hotter. Fusion technology has the potential to provide a continuous power source without producing significant greenhouse gas emissions or long-lived nuclear waste.

“A fusion device must achieve stable operation at high efficiency for thousands of seconds to enable the self-sustaining circulation of plasma, which is critical for the continuous power generation of future fusion plants,” Song Yuntao, director of the Institute of Plasma Physics responsible for the fusion project at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said. “We hope to expand international collaboration via EAST and bring fusion energy into practical use for humanity.”

What challenges does the development of nuclear fusion technology face?

While the potential benefits of nuclear fusion are promising, the technology still currently consumes more energy than it produces. EAST’s recent accomplishment is seen as progress toward a future where fusion power plants might generate sustainable, continuous electricity.

EAST is one of several experimental reactors worldwide. Although none have reached “ignition,” the point where fusion reactions sustain themselves, progress is being made. In 2022, the U.S. National Ignition Facility briefly achieved ignition, but the experiments still consumed more energy than the fusion reactions generated.

What happens next?

The data collected from EAST will aid in the development of other fusion reactors, both in China and around the world. China is a part of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) program, a global collaboration on fusion technology involving dozens of countries such as the U.S., U.K., Japan, South Korea, and Russia.

The ITER reactor, currently under construction in southern France, is set to feature the world’s most powerful magnet. It is projected to begin operations in 2039 at the earliest. The lessons learned from EAST and other reactors will contribute to ITER’s development and the broader goal of achieving practical fusion energy.