Written by Reananda Hidayat Permono
Completed Master Degree from Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
Our society is trying to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to net zero around 2050 while providing sustainable energy like nuclear fusion.
Statistically, developments in fusion power have been funded nearly exclusively by the public sector.
However, a survey from the Fusion Industry Association shows private entity investment in global fusion energy has more than doubled year-on-year.
It’s from US$2.1 billion (2021) to US$4.7 billion (2022).
A change in government policies has been pivotal for this trend.
The UK and US governments are pursuing public-private partnerships to complete their nuclear fusion research programs.
Hence, private fusion power companies around the world are going towards commercial fusion energy.
It’s also important to ensure fusion and renewable energy can go hand in hand.
The world is in the transition away from fossil fuels, and the investment in fusion must not distract it.
Besides nuclear power, we should expand the adoption of current renewable energy technology like wind, solar, and pumped hydro.
The US outlined this strategy in its Net-Zero Game Changers Initiative.
The rapid development of Covid-19 vaccines shows the possibility for scientists and engineering to work together with the right resources.
Therefore, many engineers, scientists, and now private investors decided that nuclear fusion is an answer worth pursuing.