Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear reaction fusing light nuclei like deuterium-tritium to form helium, releasing ~17 MeV energy per event.
Requires plasma temperatures >100 million °C confined by magnetic or inertial methods. No commercial power plants exist; ITER aims for Q=10 by 2035. Private ventures target 2025-2030 pilots but face tritium supply limits.
Why it matters now
Fusion investments surge in 2025-2026 for data centers, but HALEU/fission bottlenecks prioritize near-term fission SMRs over fusion commercialization.
Related terms
Nuclear Fission