The FAST (Fusion by Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) project has been officially launched in Japan with the aim of demonstrating the generation of fusion energy through deuterium-tritium (DT) reactions. This innovative initiative seeks a fundamental advance in the transition towards clean and sustainable energy sources , with the goal of generating energy from fusion by the end of the 2030s.
How will the new fusion tokamak work?
The FAST project relies on the use of a low aspect ratio tokamak with high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coils, a key technology that will allow reducing the costs and construction time of the device. This configuration was chosen for its scalability and robust database, making it the best option to achieve a viable fusion energy demonstration.
Using this technology, FAST aims to generate and maintain a deuterium-tritium reaction plasma that combines electricity generation and fusion fuel cycle technologies, thus demonstrating a complete and integrated system for energy production from nuclear fusion .
One of the main challenges of the FAST project is the tritium fuel cycle, which is essential to maintain an operational fusion power plant . The project aims to demonstrate a closed fuel cycle including tritium breeding , tritium processing and refueling, which is crucial for the sustainability of the fusion process.
Technical characteristics of the project
FAST’s tokamak device is designed to generate 50-100 MW of fusion power . The energy burst duration will be 1000 seconds, equivalent to a prolonged DT fusion burn.
Key design details:
- Largest radius : 2-3 meters
- Minor radius : 1-1.5 meters
- Magnetic field strength : 3-4.5 Tesla (with HTS magnets)
- Ion temperature : ~200 million degrees Celsius (~20 keV)
- Plasma current : 6-10 MA (megaamps)
- External heating systems : neutral beam injection (NBI) and electron cyclotron heating (ECH)
- Confinement improvement factor : 1.2-1.5
International collaboration for project success
The FAST project is a global collaboration involving academic institutions and industrial partners from Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. Key collaborators include renowned institutions such as the universities of Tokyo, Tohoku and Kyoto, as well as leading engineering and technology companies such as Mitsui & Co., Mitsubishi Corporation and Fujikura Ltd.
In addition to these partnerships, the project will benefit from the expertise of Kyoto Fusioneering’s leading researchers and practitioners, who play a crucial role in the design and development of key technologies for the project.
FAST Project Timeline and Goals
The conceptual design phase will be completed in 2025, allowing the project’s feasibility to be assessed from a technical, financial and regulatory perspective. With this roadmap, FAST is on its way to becoming a crucial achievement in the fusion energy industry.
The FAST project aims to generate fusion energy in Japan and also seeks to contribute significantly to the global advancement of nuclear fusion research . With growing international interest in the industrialization of fusion energy, the success of FAST could mark a turning point in the fight against climate change and the search for sustainable energy sources.
As the world faces energy and environmental challenges, the FAST project is emerging as a promising development in the quest for clean, low-carbon energy solutions.
Additional technical aspects:
- Integration with commercial plants : The FAST project seeks to produce fusion energy by integrating technologies necessary to efficiently convert and use that energy, which will allow a faster transition to commercial fusion power plants.
- Energy conversion systems : Heat management and energy extraction systems will be developed to make the energy generated by fusion usable in an effective and sustainable manner.
- Advanced Tokamak : FAST’s tokamak will be one of the most advanced in the world, and its compact design promises to be one of the keys to the commercial viability of fusion energy.
FAST is one of the most ambitious and promising initiatives in the field of nuclear fusion energy, positioning Japan at the forefront of research into clean and sustainable energy sources. With a combination of advanced technology, international collaboration and a focus on commercial viability, the project has the potential to change the global energy landscape, offering a viable solution to the challenges of climate change and increasing energy demand.
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Source and photos: FAST Project Office
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