For decades, fusion energy has been the great scientific pursuit — clean, limitless power drawn from the same physics that powers the sun. Enormous progress has been made in the technology required to harness nuclear fusion and significant investment is now being made by private companies and President Donald J. Trump's White House.
As we advance on fusion success, however, there is a danger of progress being halted by an enormous challenge: the supply chain. Without an American-based industrial infrastructure to source, manufacture, and deliver the materials fusion energy requires, our nation's dominance in this crucial field is at risk.
Consider the "shopping list" needed to create a viable fusion reactor. Start with its fuel, tritium, a rare hydrogen isotope. There are not a lot of tritium supplies anywhere in the world. Accordingly, you need to manufacture them – an enormous challenge before you even get to sustaining the actual fusion reaction.
The same issue applies to magnets needed to keep the fusion reaction contained and running. The list goes on.
It is not a secret for those advancing our nation's energy independence through fusion.
David Kirtley, CEO of Helion Energy, a major leader in the field, has stated that supply chain challenges could put fusion's future here in America at risk. As a result, they have moved some key technology manufacturing in-house.
In testimony before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Jackie Siebens, Helion Energy's Director of Public Affairs, stated that building the supply chain and infrastructure necessary to scale fusion is "chief among" the company's challenges. She warned that fusion power plants will rely on key components including semiconductors, capacitors, high-quality metals, and magnets —and that the manufacturing of those key items is currently concentrated in a few countries, chiefly China. Why are we not surprised?
The geopolitical stakes could not be higher. Helion Energy correctly argues that without a strong domestic supply chain, the U.S. risks losing its strategic energy dominance even as it advances on fusion energy success
Our nation's leaders must treat protecting the supply chain with the same urgency as research funding to achieve fusion energy breakthroughs. Washington needs to recognize the challenge and encourage the creation of an "American made" network of fusion technology suppliers that will protect our future. It is a race where second best will leave a nation in the dark.
Lawrence Kadish serves on the Board of Governors of Gatestone Institute.
Source: Gatestone Institute :: Articles
