China May Use Nuclear Fusion For Energy Needs By 2050

China aims to commercialize nuclear fusion technology for clean, emissions-free power generation by 2050, according to its state-owned atomic company, Bloomberg News reported.

China has accelerated its nuclear fusion ambitions, investing heavily in a process that powers the sun and stars. I Photo: China National Nuclear Corp.

The China National Nuclear Corp. (CNNC), which operates an experimental nuclear fusion device known as the “artificial sun,” could launch its first commercial power project around five years after a demonstration phase begins in 2045, officials said during a recent media briefing.

China has accelerated its nuclear fusion ambitions, investing heavily in a process that powers the sun and stars.

While fusion offers a near-infinite source of clean energy, it remains technologically challenging to sustain in a controlled, usable form. Only a handful of countries, including the U.S., Russia, and South Korea, have achieved foundational breakthroughs in the field.

To advance the technology, CNNC formed an industry alliance last year and launched the China Fusion Corp., securing 1.75 billion yuan ($240 million) in investment from CNNC and Zhejiang Zheneng Electric Power Co.

The funds will be used to develop tokamak devices, which employ magnetic fields to confine superheated plasma, enabling power generation without emissions or significant radioactive waste.

In addition to its fusion efforts, CNNC plans to expand production of its homegrown nuclear fission reactor designs and small modular reactors (SMRs) over the next five years, Vice General Manager Xin Feng said at the briefing.