Tokamak Energy hits commercial fusion milestone
Tokamak Energy has achieved a plasma temperature of 100,000,000°C with its ST40 spherical tokamak, the threshold required for commercial fusion energy.
A world-first for a private fusion energy company, this is the highest temperature ever achieved in a spherical tokamak. Tokamaks use magnets to contain a plasma so that it can reach the high temperatures at which fusion occurs.
High magnetic fields are necessary for tokamaks to contain the superheated fuel, and higher magnetic fields enable a smaller, lower-cost tokamak.
Whilst several government laboratories have reported plasma temperatures above 100M° in conventional tokamaks, this milestone has been achieved in just five years for a cost of under £50m in a much more compact fusion device.
Tokamak Energy said its achievement further substantiates spherical tokamaks as the optimal route to delivery of clean, secure, low-cost, scalable and globally deployable commercial fusion energy.
The privately-funded ST40 has over 25 diagnostic tools and utilises advanced measurement technologies. The 100M° result has been verified by an independent advisory board comprising international experts. Tokamak Energy plans to share its results with the scientific community.
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