SAN DIEGO — For centuries, the world was lit, in the words of a best-selling book, only by fire. Will the not-too-distant future see a world powered largely by fusion?
Global interest, research and investment in nuclear fusion is at an all-time high and San Diego-based General Atomics has announced a program to design, build and operate a pilot plant aimed at taking a crucial step toward making the long sought-after potential of nuclear fusion a reality — providing a warming planet a power source that is practically limitless, emissions-free, safe and cost-effective.
"I think fusion-generated electricity will ultimately transform the world with abundant, clean energy. I don't think that's an overstatement," said Wayne Solomon, vice president for Magnetic Fusion Energy at General Atomics. "The question is only how quickly and how much investment we're going to make in it to realize that."
