The EU is funding a form of nuclear energy that has the potential to deliver unlimited power with almost no environmental impact. It is based on fusion, the joining of small lightweight atoms which in turn release massive amounts of energy.
Current nuclear power stations are based on fission, which delivers energy by splitting heavy atoms.
"Fusion is the energy process that takes place within the sun and stars," explained Dr Derek Stork, of JET, the EU's Joint European Torus project.
Hundreds of tonnes of nuclear fuel are needed to power a fission station, but fusion would need only a few hundred kilos of fuel.
A single gram would provide enough energy to meet the needs of 5,000 homes for a day, such is the energy released. No radioactive wastes are left behind and few environmental hazards, he said.
Fusion presents a tremendous challenge, however. The reaction is contained within a magnetic "bottle" and temperatures of 10 million degrees Celsius are necessary to sustain the reaction. For this reason commercial fusion is still a power system for the future.
