Why a Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough May Be Closer Than You Think

The U.S. energy system is in the middle of an all-out revolution. Growing electricity demand has contributed to a massive build out of any power source that utilities can get their hands on—often gas and solar power, typically the two cheapest options these days. Meanwhile, the country has cemented its place as a superpower in fossil fuel production. Fusion energy, which has for decades been considered as distant and almost like science fiction, has the potential to reshape all of these trends. And it could happen sooner than many energy practitioners realize. “I think we are showing promise for being able to demonstrate fusion conditions in this decade, and this decade has only five years left,” says Ernest Moniz, the former U.S. energy secretary who now serves on the board of TAE Technologies, a fusion company. “Eventually, it could become the dominant source.” There’s no question that the pathway to a grid dominated by fusion is long and windy. For decades, it’s been dismissed as too fantastical to consider seriously. Yet, now, it increasingly looks like fusion may soon be commercial—and policymakers and business executives around the world have done little to prepare for the wide-reaching consequences. Read more: https://time.com/7302543/nuclear-energy-commonwealth-fusion/ Subscribe to TIME’s YouTube channel ►► http://ti.me/subscribe-time Subscribe to TIME: time.com/subscribe