Chinese Premier Xi on Fusion: “A Grand Conception”
Taken from Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Plasma Physics
Fusion offers the promise of providing a nearly inexhaustible supply of energy that is clean, safe, and secure. Energy from fusion produces no greenhouse gasses or air pollutants, and there is no threat of nuclear meltdowns. The fusion process produces no harmful byproducts and promises complete energy security in the future.
This past weekend, President Obama and President Xi Jinping met at Sunnylands Summit to discuss several issues, including climate and energy, within their bilateral relationship. Both parties recognized the threats of climate change and agreed to work together in order to reduce the production of greenhouse gasses through clean energy technologies.
China has made rapid strides in fusion energy research since purchasing the HT-7 superconducting tokamak in the 1990s. China completed the EAST tokamak in 2006 and has committed to training an additional 2,000 fusion experts in the next ten years.
Upon visiting the Institute of Plasma Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) to view the EAST Superconducting Tokamak on April 9 2011, Chinese Premier Xi Jinping applauded EAST’s fusion research and contributions to ITER.
“Fusion “is a grand conception”, said Xi Jinping, “Human can not do without energy for its existence and development, and energy utilization won’t be sustainable without science and technology. Fusion research will pave a bright way for humankind in energy alternatives.”
Click here for ASP’s recent fact sheet on international fusion progress.
While China continues to invest in fusion energy, the United States is falling behind. A lack of commitment to research and development risks ceding U.S. leadership in science to foreign countries. The United States must make a national commitment to develop fusion energy in order to supply clean, safe, and secure energy for the next century.
