China launches international scientific program in fusion field! Fusion energy is regarded as the ultimate goal of clean energy in the future

Carry out combustion plasma physics research, realize energy output is greater than energy consumption, demonstrate fusion energy power generation... On the morning of November 24, in the host hall of the compact fusion energy experimental device (BEST) located in Hefei Future Science City, Anhui Province, the Chinese Academy of Sciences' international scientific program of "combustion plasma" was officially launched and released the BEST research plan for the first time to the international fusion community, focusing on lighting the "artificial sun".

Nuclear fusion energy, which simulates the fusion reaction of the sun to release energy, is known as the "ultimate energy" of humanity. For decades, scientists have explored the strict conditions required for fusion reactions, such as high parameters and long pulses, on experimental devices through technological routes such as magnetic confinement. "We are going to enter a new stage of burning plasma." Song Yuntao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Hefei Institute of Physical Sciences and director of the Institute of Plasma Physics, said that this is the key to the research of fusion engineering, which means that nuclear fusion, like "flame", is maintained by the heat generated by the reaction itself, which is the basis for sustainable power generation in the future.

【This is a photo taken on October 1, 2025, at the construction site of the Compact Fusion Energy Experimental Device (BEST) in the Future Science City of Hefei, Anhui Province, of the successfully installed Dewar pedestal】

In recent years, China's research on nuclear fusion has accelerated, breaking world records multiple times. The BEST device, as the next generation of "artificial sun" in China, undertakes the mission of "combustion". According to the research plan, after the completion of the device by the end of 2027, experimental research on deuterium tritium combustion plasma will be conducted to verify its long pulse steady-state operation capability, aiming to achieve fusion power of 20 MW to 200 MW, achieve energy output greater than energy consumption, and demonstrate fusion energy generation.

This is the exploration of 'no man's land', which will face many engineering and physical challenges, "said Song Yuntao. Alpha particles are crucial for maintaining the ultra-high temperature conditions required for fusion reactions, but further research is needed on their transport laws and other aspects. Leading the launch of an international scientific program can not only rely on the institutional advantages of China's superconducting tokamak large scientific team, but also help to gather the wisdom and strength of global scientists, and jointly break through the cutting-edge physics problems of fusion combustion

【This is a successfully installed Dewar pedestal captured on October 1st at the construction site of the Compact Fusion Energy Experiment (BEST)】

According to the International Science Program, the Institute of Plasma Physics will open multiple nuclear fusion large-scale scientific device platforms, including BEST, to the world, establish an open research fund, and support high-frequency expert visits and exchanges. Fusion scientists from over ten countries, including France, the UK, and Germany, have jointly signed the Hefei Fusion Declaration, which advocates the spirit of openness, sharing, and win-win cooperation, and encourages researchers from various countries to conduct fusion cooperation research in China.