What exactly happens with nuclear fusion and why is it not possible to use it for energy production?

Answer

Hi Vincent,

Research is still going on into energy production from nuclear fusion. However, the only track that currently seems hopeful is immensely expensive. In order for nuclear fusion to take place, hydrogen atoms must be heated to as much as a hundred million degrees Celsius, and the only way to do this is by using gigantic magnets that have to levitate a circle of hydrogen gas so that it does not come into contact with the walls of the installation. As a result, the entire installation will be the same size as the cooling towers of current power stations (but are therefore packed with extremely expensive high-tech material).
Such an installation is currently being built in France, called ITER, and it is planned to be completed by 2018. In the past, nuclear fusion has already been achieved for about six seconds. The first possibility to also extract energy from nuclear fusion would be for a successor to ITER, at the earliest by 2040 or so.

Nuclear fusion is indeed perhaps the greenest source of energy we can dream of. The process produces no or very little radioactivity and the impact on the environment is also much smaller than that of wind turbines, solar panel parks or dams.

regards,

Ward