CHENGDU, April 7 -- A new wave of young innovators in China is harnessing cutting-edge fusion energy technologies amidst increasing global energy demands.

As artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies drive energy needs to unprecedented levels, nuclear fusion is being viewed as a potential solution to meet future demand.

In this competitive landscape, China and the United States are leading nations racing to convert recent laboratory breakthroughs into viable engineering applications.

At an industrial site in Chengdu, a robust renovation effort is underway with the aim of establishing a base for compact fusion devices.

This initiative focuses on pioneering linear Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC) technology—an innovative approach that aims to create a more flexible and modular version of an 'artificial sun.' Xiang Jiang, chairman of HHMAX-Energy, a startup founded in 2022, articulated the importance of this technology.

He noted that while traditional methods depend on achieving sustained ignition, the linear configuration aims to circumvent the challenges associated with prolonged stable operations of conventional fusion devices.

He compared traditional fusion technology to a sprawling subway system, whereas his firm's approach resembles a nimble, high-speed maglev train.

Further north in Xi'an, a team consisting of former members from Tsinghua University's fusion laboratory has achieved significant progress.

They successfully built a fusion experimental device in just 279 days and subsequently doubled the plasma current within three months.

Founder Chen Rui emphasized a commitment to redefining their approach rather than changing direction.

In Shanghai, a team at Energy Singularity has targeted advancements in magnetic field strength utilized for nuclear fusion.

Recent breakthroughs include achieving a magnet strength of 21.7 tesla, surpassing previous records set by institutions in the United States.

The firm has set an ambitious goal to complete its next-generation tokamak by 2027, with expectations of achieving a tenfold energy gain, considered crucial for the commercial viability of fusion energy.

Policy support has emerged as a critical component in propelling China's fusion ambitions.

In 2024, Chinese authorities identified nuclear fusion as a key focus area for technological breakthroughs aimed at future energy systems.

This initiative has been widely interpreted as a starting point for China's efforts to commercialize controlled nuclear fusion.

Additionally, Shanghai is actively positioning itself as a global hub for nuclear equipment manufacturing and advanced fusion research and development, forecasting double-digit growth for its nuclear power sector through 2025.

Duan Xuru, chief fusion scientist at the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), expressed optimism regarding the timeline for commercial fusion.

Advances in high-temperature superconductors, artificial intelligence, and advanced materials may potentially accelerate the timeline for viability, initially projected around 2050.

China's advancements in nuclear fusion scientific experiments are significant contributors to this accelerating progress.

A highlight includes the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) in Hefei, which recently maintained steady-state high-confinement plasma operation for 1,066 seconds—a new global record.

Moreover, the HL-3 tokamak facility in Chengdu achieved temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius, marking important progress in combustion experiments.

Nevertheless, several technical challenges remain for the industrialization of nuclear fusion.

Current devices can only operate for durations on the order of hundreds of seconds, which is inadequate for long-term energy generation.

The extreme conditions inherent in fusion, such as high temperatures and intense neutron irradiation, require the development of more advanced resistant materials.

Additionally, achieving net energy gain necessitates improved device efficiency and enhanced system coordination.

Xiang Jiang compared these challenges to constructing an 'alchemy furnace.' He highlighted that mastering fusion technology requires engineering reactors capable of withstanding million-degree temperatures and sudden shocks, necessitating widespread industry collaboration.

Despite rising interest from venture capital in nuclear fusion, investment in this sector within China has been relatively modest.

Over the past five years, private funding in China has totaled approximately 500 million U.S. dollars, significantly less than the approximately 5 billion dollars invested in the United States within the same timeframe.

Kang Jianshu, executive director of LightSilver Capital, noted that the demands of nuclear fusion investments necessitate a long-term strategy, suited to investors committed to deep-rooted technological advancements.

He pointed out that capital seeking short-term returns is fundamentally mismatched with the sector's needs.

LightSilver Capital is an investor in HHMAX-Energy, and Kang expressed confidence in a long investment horizon spanning 8 to 10 years, emphasizing that patience is essential.

In addition to long-term goals, HHMAX-Energy has adopted a strategy focusing on 'value creation along the way' to generate returns for investors during the commercial fusion journey.

This approach includes exploring applications of neutron sources in medical and industrial sectors, such as radiation therapy for cancer treatment, production of nuclear pharmaceutical isotopes, neutron imaging, and nuclear waste management.