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IN BRIEF Fusion energy represents a new era in energy generation. Fusion reactors create miniature suns from which we can draw enough energy to power 150,000 homes. Both government agencies and private enterprise are working tirelessly to make this a reality. For centuries, humans have dreamed of harnessing the power of the sun to energize our lives here on Earth. But we want to go beyond collecting solar energy, and one day generate our own from a mini-sun. If we’re able to solve an extremely complex set of scientific and engineering problems, fusion energy promises a green, safe, unlimited source of energy. From just one kilogram of deuterium extracted from water per day could come enough electricity to power hundreds of thousands of homes. Since the 1950s, scientific and engineering research has generated enormous progress toward forcing hydrogen atoms to fuse together in a self-sustaining reaction – as well as a small but demonstrable amount of fusion energy. Skeptics ...

31 March 2017  From the section Somerset These are external links and will open in a new window Share Image copyrightEDFImage captionAbout 1,600 workers are at the Hinkley Point C site The first concrete has been poured in the construction of Britain's first new nuclear power plant in more than 20 years. Work has now begun on Hinkley Point C in Somerset, including the building of tunnels to carry cabling and pipes. About 1,600 workers are now onsite to work on the £18bn project, which is due to begin producing power in 2025. Pouring the concrete was a "significant milestone", project director Philippe Bordarier said. 'Hard work' Other progress announced by EDF Energy, which is behind the scheme, includes beginning work on a 500m (1,600 ft) temporary jetty in the Bristol Channel. A store is also being built to contain 57,000 tones of aggregate, which can be brought in by sea rather than by road. Work to build the first of 50 huge tower cranes at the site...

IN BRIEF Fusion energy represents a new era in energy generation. Fusion reactors create miniature suns from which we can draw enough energy to power 150,000 homes. Both government agencies and private enterprise are working tirelessly to make this a reality. For centuries, humans have dreamed of harnessing the power of the sun to energize our lives here on Earth. But we want to go beyond collecting solar energy, and one day generate our own from a mini-sun. If we’re able to solve an extremely complex set of scientific and engineering problems, fusion energy promises a green, safe, unlimited source of energy. From just one kilogram of deuterium extracted from water per day could come enough electricity to power hundreds of thousands of homes. CLICK TO VIEW COMPLETE INFOGRAPHIC   Since the 1950s, scientific and engineering research has generated enormous progress toward forcing hydrogen atoms to fuse together in a self-sustaining reaction – as well as a small but demonstrable a...