Nuclear fusion – which involves the fusion of hydrogen atoms, creating helium – could help meet the word’s growing demand for energy since it is climate-neutral. The energy that can be generated from hydrogen, a readily available gas, is colossal. Only one kilogramme of hydrogen could produce the same amount of energy as 10,000 tonnes of coal. Work to develop power plants capable of this is, however, still in its infancy.

Inexhaustible energy source

The fusion of atomic nuclei, the process by which the sun generates energy, requires temperatures of 100 million degrees. It is possible to heat a gas, more correctly known as plasma, to these temperatures. But how can matter be kept at these temperatures without being cooled down by the walls of the vessel holding it? Only extremely strong magnetic fields would appear to offer a solution, keeping the plasma suspended inside the plasma vessel. To produce a magnetic field of the strength required, the magnetic cage itself must be cooled down to a temperature of around -270° Celsius, absolute zero.

Every aspect of the process is a massive technical challenge, which can only be expected to produce an actual power plant in the long term. Many questions as to how precisely the process of fusion takes place and how it can be managed still need to be resolved. Scientists have been working on nuclear fusion for decades, but now the crucial experiments are to be launched.

Greifswald – the fusion pioneer

The Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Greifswald has developed the Wendelstein 7-X device. First experiments using helium plasma began in December 2015. On Wednesday, Chancellor Angela Merkel launched the next critical phase, in which helium plasma is replaced by hydrogen plasma. "The hydrogen plasma experiment marks the start of an experiment that is unique in the world, and that can bring us a major step closer to harnessing the energy source of the future," stressed Angela Merkel. "Every step we take towards being able to produce a fusion power plant is a huge achievement."

Parallel to the stellarator-type device that is being used in Greifswald, the IPP’s Garching centre is working on an alternative design – the tokamak. Germany is also involved in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project, which is producing the world’s first fusion power plant in the south of France. Currently the power plant is not expected to generate its first electricity before 2050.

Impacts for the entire region

The Institute in Greifswald is important for the entire region. "There can be absolutely no doubt that the Wendelstein 7-X fusion device is very important for the entire region," said the Chancellor. The IPP’s staff of 400 in Greifswald illustrate this. Many orders for items and services related to Wendelstein 7-X have been placed with companies in the region, securing jobs here," said Angela Merkel.

Around the project some 500 jobs have been created for highly qualified specialists. The vicinity of the project is also making the university town increasingly attractive. The many research facilities being established here and attracting high-ranking scientists are in themselves evidence that Greifswald is a successful research location.