Fusion No Illusion

Scientists and government officials earlier this month announced the achievement of a technological “Holy Grail” breakthrough long sought by those seeking the next revolution in energy production.

After decades of research and testing, a “fusion” of atoms was successful in the laboratory, with more energy coming from the atom-mashing experiment than was put into it.

The moment was praised as heralding perhaps the key energy source of the future, taking over from Earth-warming fossil fuels, unpredictable solar and wind and always potentially dangerous nuclear power.

“This milestone moves us one significant step closer to the possibility of zero carbon abundant fusion energy powering our society," said Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm in announcing the news.

"If we can advance fusion energy, we could use it to produce electricity, transportation, fuels, power, heavy industry and so much more. It would be like adding a power drill to our toolbox and building a clean-energy economy."

Specifically, the experiment pointed 192 lasers at a container holding a small pellet of fuel the size of a peppercorn, made up of deuterium and tritium – both isotopes of hydrogen.

The lasers generated 2.05 megajoules of energy within the container and ignited the reaction, briefly heating it to over 3 million degrees Celsius - creating the conditions of a star – and generating 3.15 megajoules of energy.

The experiment proved fusion can create more clean energy than it takes to make it, thereby making it possible someday to replicate that result on a large scale and potentially provide a new, inexhaustible baseline power grid for future generations.

Experts say that could happen sometime in the next 10 to 30 years, depending on how quickly the technology and infrastructure can be perfected and implemented.

In other words, probably not in my lifetime. But for my son and grandkids — yes, it could provide the power backdrop for a whole new world of possibilities.

But I think there are Two Big Things we should remember: One, this technology is being watched closely by the military to size up its weapon potential. And isn’t that always the way it goes? Something essentially good for the world being hijacked or perverted for military advantage?

Second, even though the fusion announcement made reference to a possibly less expensive energy future, will it be? Really?

Private corporations have kicked in billions to advance fusion technology, and they aren’t doing it for their health. Obviously, their shareholders will want to make a buck or two off their investments, and we know from whose pockets those bucks will come.

So will it ultimately REALLY be less expensive than what we’re shelling out now?

I guess we can only hope.

Meantime, though, we should probably not get too far ahead of ourselves — and just celebrate this energy-creation milestone. I’m not a scientist, but I know there are still many, many steps ahead before fusion becomes the energy-producing salvation we’ve been waiting for.

And heating something to 3 million degrees Celsius (about 5.5 million degrees Fahrenheit) to make power makes me nervous.

Let’s just hope there are no major missteps or super destructive accidents along the way.