Tokamak Energy, which is a UK fusion power research company, are building special magnets that could lead to a potential breakthrough in fusion technology. 

According to an article on BBC News, fusion can be described as the reaction that is the main power source behind the energy emitted from the Sun and the stars in our galaxy. The goal is to create those levels of power here on Earth, which would open the door to a more greener and ample source of energy.

One of the main challenges in achieving this feat is creating magnets that can control the extraordinarily high temperatures emitted by plasma within a reactor.

“It will be an assembly of many, many coils generating forces that are all interacting and pulling on one another forming a balanced set. This has to be controlled or the forces could become imbalanced,” said Dr Greg Brittles of Tokamak Energy when describing the magnets.

Once ready, the magnets will be placed into a spherical tokamak. This is the reactor which harnesses this fusion process.

“We’re working hard to tackle lots of challenges that could trip us up at any point. But from where we sit, there’s nothing that stands in the way that I think is a showstopper,” said Brittles.

In March 2021, Engineering Matters released an episode that examined a project being run by the UK Atomic Energy Authority, which aims to build a prototype fusion power plant by the 2040s. Click here to listen.