World’s First Nuclear Fusion Reactor Could Open In The UK By 2040

Residents in West Burton, Nottinghamshire, could be overlooking the world’s first commercial nuclear fusion reactor by 2040, with the UK government officially committing to the project by selecting a site for the facility. 

As Interesting Engineering pointed out, this endeavor has precedence, considering the country was the first to produce a nuclear fission reactor back in the 1950s. 

What exactly is nuclear fusion? Well, according to the authorities, the process is based on the same physical reactions powering the sun and stars. By combining two light atomic nuclear, large amounts of energy are released. 

“This technology has significant potential to deliver safe, sustainable, low carbon energy for future generations,” officials explained. 

Fittingly, emphasizing its stance on sustainability, instead of taking up room on unused habitat, the plant will be built on the site of a coal-fired power station that’s set to be decommissioned. 

The UK Government is pledging £220 million (US$250 million) in funding for the first stage of the project, which is expected to cost an astonishing £10 billion (US$11.42 billion) in total.

More details will be released in the coming years, and the UK Atomic Energy Authority will present its concept design for the nuclear fusion facility by 2024. 

[via Interesting Engineering and UK Government, cover image via Dtfoxfoto | Dreamstime.com]