Scientists involved in the next step to harness nuclear fusion - the power of the Sun - are meeting to decide where to put the $5bn fusion reactor.

It will take a decade to build the fusion machine which releases energy in a similar way to the Sun's furnaces.

Scientists say the new reactor will be the first such prototype to give out a lot more power than it consumes.

Two venues are in contention, Cadarache in southern France and front-runner Rokkasho-mura in Japan.

Competition between the two sites has been intense. The winner is expected to be announced on Friday or Saturday at a meeting in Washington, DC.

Power from seawater

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (Iter) is the boldest nuclear initiative since the Manhattan Project - the effort to build the first atom bomb.

In a conventional nuclear power station the splitting atoms inside radioactive material take place in a controlled chain reaction whose by-product is heat, which is used to generate electricity.

Nuclear fusion takes a different approach, seeking to emulate the Sun.

Two atoms of deuterium - a heavy form of hydrogen - are forced together under extremely high temperatures - tens of millions of degrees.

When they fuse they release fast neutrons which can be used to heat a thermal blanket which in turn is used to generate electricity.

Advocates of fusion power point out there is an almost limitless supply of deuterium available as it can be derived from seawater.


View: Full Article | Source: BBC News