Artificial Sun and its Development State
Humans have been trying to find a sustainable energy source for the last decade that can easily support the growing demands of electricity. The Korea Institute of Fusion Energy (KFE) is showing the path of harassing unlimited clean energy from nuclear fusion by creating an Artificial Sun. This makes us question, when others are already in it, where is India in this race to developing an artificial sun.
Unlimited energy from Artificial Sun
In April 2024, the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) fusion reactor produced heat of temperature that surpasses 100 million Celsius for a record period of 48 seconds. Interestingly, the temperature of the core of the Sun is only 15 million degrees Celsius, meaning the KSTAR fusion reactor has reached seven times this temperature.
Prior to this, China had the world record as their Artificial Sun reached the temperature of 70 million degrees Celsius in 2021. KSTAR aims to achieve 100 million degrees Celsius in more than 300 seconds by the year 2026. According to experts, the Artificial Sun can help address all of humankind’s energy requirements in the near future; however, there is a long way to go. Not just these two Asian nations but also most of the developed nations are investigating nuclear power to attain energy security without depending on fossil fuels.
India’s Journey
India is also in the race to make Artificial Sun. India is a part of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), which was formed in 1985 with 35 other nations like Japan, France, and the European Union. India has made a commitment of 17500 crores Rupees for the mega project, which is situated in France. India contributes about 10% of the overall cost of the project, but after completion, it will get access to 100% of the technology. This is by far the most expensive science project for India. Similarly, ITER is considered the most expensive science project in the entire world of the 21st century.
The total weight of the ITER reactor is around 28000 tons. In France, more than one hundred brilliant minds from India are working to replicate the real energy of the Sun, which can revolutionise the entire energy sector around the globe. This rector is expected to become operational in 2025, and similar to South Korea, it will reach a temperature of 100 million Celsius.
However, full-scale energy generation will begin in 2040 with the help of the DEMO reactor. India has to spend billions of dollars every year to import coal from South Africa and Indonesia to power the thermal plants. The government of India is optimistic that the investments in the artificial sun project will be able to satisfy the national energy need, while cutting the foreign dependency in energy generation.
A way ahead
Although the Artificial Sun projects hold promise, all of these projects are still in the experimental phase. Scientists are continuously working to maintain stable plasma at extremely high temperatures; however, no known materials can withstand the harsh conditions in fusion reactors for long. These projects are expected to supply energy commercially in the next decade if the main challenges can be overcome.
Any flaws in the reactors can create a situation like Chornobyl or even worse. Until then, expanding the infrastructure of common green energy sources such as solar and wind energy is needed to lower the use of fossil fuels for energy generation. The effect of global warming is becoming more prominent every day, which is serving as a wake-up call to shift towards sustainable energy. After harnessing the true potential of nuclear fusion, society can move closer to a sustainable future.
