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Experts say, 'China has developed world-class capabilities.'
On January 20, China's fully superconducting nuclear fusion reaction testing device, EAST, also known as the 'artificial sun,' set a new world record in Hefei, Anhui Province. This device simulates nuclear fusion reactions similar to those inside the Sun.
The working principle of EAST involves using hydrogen and deuterium—abundant resources—to create nuclear fusion under extremely high temperatures and pressure. This process releases a massive amount of energy, clean and pollution-free, offering sustainable potential to replace traditional energy sources.
Most recently, EAST achieved a 'high-quality burning process' of 100 million degrees Celsius for 1,000 seconds. This breakthrough surpassed its own previous world record of 403 seconds, which was also set by EAST in 2023.
According to Xinhua, this event marks a major leap in China's fusion energy research, moving from basic science to practical engineering. It holds tremendous significance for humanity in accelerating the realization of nuclear fusion power generation. Over the past decade, the 'artificial sun' has undergone more than 150,000 experiments, reaching new scientific heights and positioning China as a global leader in fusion research.
Xinhua also reports that the design for China's next-generation fusion reactor for experimental technology has been completed. Following its roadmap, the country aims to construct the world’s first demonstration fusion power plant in the future.
In reality, China got a late start in the race for nuclear fusion research. However, recently, it has made significant strides in pioneering technology and is on track to quickly surpass efforts from Europe, the U.S., and Japan.
'From a country that wasn't involved in nuclear fusion 25 years ago, China has now developed world-class capabilities in this field,' says Cyrille Mai Thanh, Director of EU Affairs at the Fusion Industry Association.
According to the Japanese business news agency Nikkei, since 2011, China has filed the most patents in the fusion supply chain. The country also has ten times as many PhDs in fusion science and engineering as the U.S.
It can be said that the global race toward nuclear fusion is not a zero-sum game. Technological advances will drive breakthroughs worldwide, bringing us closer to the promise of abundant, carbon-free energy from nuclear fusion.
According to Xinhua, Euractiv
