Thanks to a debate on the fastest game bird in Europe, mankind has been keeping track of the world’s most noteworthy (and some bizarre) records. These records could include anything, but a technological achievement has been making headlines, as it could revolutionize the energy industry. Researchers have achieved a temperature of 100,000,000°C for plasma, forcing the world to reimagine the infinite energy edge.
The institute that continues to break records
As the world gradually transitions to renewable energy sources, several countries have shown their dedication to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, with some aiming to achieve it earlier than the global deadline. There is one country that has been focusing on a completely different clean energy source entirely. The country’s goal is to secure energy independence, achieve the global mission, and inevitably be a leader in the future of renewable energy.
In May 2020, Korean national law established an institute with a mission to commercialize fusion energy and evolve private fusion reactor technology. The Korea Institute of Fusion Energy’s (KFE) mission is driven by fusion’s potential to supply unlimited, safe, and sustainable energy. The institute broke a world record in 2018, then in 2021, and the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy has done it yet again.
The new world record is about plasma
To achieve Korea’s mission, KFE initiated the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) project. According to the official KFE website, the goal of KSTAR is to imitate the sun’s energy generation by achieving continuous controlled nuclear fusion. The project, which uses a tokamak design, applies magnetic fields to enclose and heat halo-shaped plasma to significantly high temperatures to achieve fusion.
It is with KSTAR’s tokamak design that KFE broke its first world record. According to Fusion Energy Insights, in 2018, the KSTAR project achieved a world record plasma temperature of 100,000,000°C. In 2021, KSTAR secured its second world record by achieving and holding that temperature for 30 seconds. Between December 2023 and February 2024, KFE announced its latest world record.
KSTAR achieved 100,000,000°C and held it for 48 seconds, and in the plasma’s high confinement mode (H-mode), the temperature was held for over 100 seconds. Thanks to KSTAR’s new divertor made from tungsten, they were able to achieve these long-awaited results. According to KFE, it had been a long-term goal to hold plasma at fusion-relevant temperatures for that long. This achievement will revolutionize fusion energy technology.
KSTAR achieved a world record, so now what?
Fusion tokamak performance requires sustained extreme temperatures, as well as high-density plasma for a specific period to achieve fusion. Therefore, the longer hot and dense plasma can be held, the more fusion reactions will take place, and the more energy will be generated.
As Korea plans on investing in future tokamak power plants, they would ideally function in a steady state to keep plasma stable and have fusion reactions occur continuously. Thus, KSTAR’s experiments are essential to achieve extended periods of fusion-relevant temperatures for plasma. The project’s results could soon prove fusion notions to enable commercialization in the future.
“This research is a green light for acquiring core technologies required for the fusion DEMO reactor… we will do our best to secure core technologies essential for the operation of ITER and the construction of future DEMO reactors.” – KFE President, Dr. Suk Jae Yoo
These world records are impressive, but KSTAR plans on pushing its results even further. The next goal is to achieve and hold 100,000,000°C plasma for 300 seconds by 2026. KFE will be focusing on upgrading components and may turn to AI for feedback control to increase plasma performance. Korea is not the only country focused on fusion, as China has been keeping busy with the construction of a mega-laser facility to research nuclear fusion.
Disclaimer: Our coverage of events affecting companies is purely informative and descriptive. Under no circumstances does it seek to promote an opinion or create a trend, nor can it be taken as investment advice or a recommendation of any kind.