Beijing (Agencies): China’s relentless push towards becoming a leader in nuclear fusion technology has led to another historic achievement. Researchers at the Institute of Plasma Physics (ASIPP) at the Hefei Institute of Physical Science have set a new world record by sustaining a nuclear fusion reaction at an astonishing 100 million degrees Celsius for 1,066 seconds. This milestone surpasses their previous record of 403 seconds set in April 2023.
China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) continues to spearhead the country’s ambitious efforts in the global nuclear fusion race, positioning itself ahead of other key players like the United States, Japan, South Korea, and the European Union.
The quest for nuclear fusion, often hailed as the holy grail of clean energy, has been a long-standing endeavor. While the U.S. has been a pioneer in fusion research since the 1950s, China’s rapid advancements in the past decade have set new benchmarks. With Beijing investing approximately $1.5 billion annually in fusion research—nearly double the $800 million spent by Washington—the country now holds more fusion patents than any other nation.
In a remarkable feat, Shanghai-based startup Energy Singularity has made significant strides in reducing the size and increasing the efficiency of fusion devices. Last year, the company achieved engineering feasibility verification for its Honghuang 70 (HH70) tokamak, marking a critical milestone. Energy Singularity is now the first commercial company globally to build and operate an all-superconducting tokamak, showcasing China’s innovation prowess.
“The design of the device began in March 2022, and the overall installation was completed by the end of February this year, setting the fastest record for the research and construction of superconducting tokamak devices worldwide,” said Yang Zhao, CEO of Energy Singularity.
The company’s next goal is even more ambitious—developing the HH170 tokamak by 2027, with a deuterium-tritium equivalent energy gain (Q) greater than 10. This achievement would be a monumental leap in the field, as a Q value greater than 1 signifies a reactor generating more energy than it consumes.
As the race for nuclear fusion intensifies, China’s relentless pursuit and remarkable progress are reshaping the global energy landscape, bringing the dream of limitless clean energy closer to reality.