Thirty-four-year-old Brandon Sorbom has managed to develop a start-up which has gained support and funding from the likes of Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos. Sorbom has solved a central obstacle which made fusion reactors too expensive to build; his high-temperature conductors have the potential to decrease the expense that escorts the manufacturing of fusion reactors.
Fusion power is the most predominant reaction that we have empirically experienced; it is the reaction that powers our sun and the stars. By definition, “fusion power is a prospective form of power generation that accomplishes the making of electricity by using heat from nuclear fusion reactions”. In the process of fusion, two lighter atomic nuclei are combined to form a heavier nucleus whilst also releasing energy. The instruments which are designed to control this energy are otherwise known as fusion reactors.
Sorbom attended Loyola Marymount University and graduated in 2010 having studied electrical engineering and engineering physics; he wanted to complete his doctorate in nuclear fusion but had been rejected from all five universities he sought to attend, including MIT (Massachusetts Institution of Technology); [they] hard argued that Sorbom did not have enough “hands-on” lab experience. Consequently, Sorbom sought to seek employment at MIT working as a fusion energy lab technician. Fast forward to 2021, and Sorbom has got his doctorate in fusion energy at MIT and is now a co-founder and chief scientific officer of Commonwealth Fusion Systems, funded by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates.
Something scientists previously have not been able to figure out is how to maintain an astronomical amount of heat needed in order for a fusion to happen whilst also keep expense at an all-time low and achieve profitable energy. Previous electromagnetic systems were not habituated to achieve all the aforementioned factor. As a result, Brandon Sorbom and his team designed a magnet which was made up of yttrium barium oxide. Whilst acknowledging the components of the magnet, it was also considerably smaller than any other magnets formerly practised.
Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) – co-founded by Sorbom – is premised on making fusion energy profitable and produce ‘safe and limitless’ amounts of clean energy whilst also contributing to combatting climate change. CFS is centred around fusion energy which is also what powers the sun. It is worth recognising the benefits and detriments of fusion energy: first and foremost, as aforementioned, fusion energy is clean energy. The reason for an incredible of heat needed is due to the natural order of energy production globally; a predominant amount of the energy used on the planet generates carbon-based materials which in turn heat up the planet. Secondly, nuclear fusion is limitless as well as broadly being safe, thus, meaning the location of potential centres is unlimited.
As for the detriments of fusion energy, the production of fusion energy results in a forceful takeover of all the energy produced to sustain the reaction which leaves no power to fuel anything else. Additionally, it could take up to a decade before a fusion reactor can deliver fusion to electricity grids. Once the energy has been effectively scaled and manipulated, there is a great potential for fusion energy to be as cost-effective as electricity in the present day.
Decisively, the innovation behind Sorbom’ s adaptation to fusion energy is incredible and admirable. Sorbom’s origin story would have indicated that he may not have been successful in what he set out to achieve. However, despite facing initial rejection from MIT, Sorbom has cultivated a solution to a problem scientist have been trying to develop for years in addition to also receiving funding from Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. Admittedly, as innovative, and resourceful as the fundamentals of CFS are and the premise behind it, it is also worth acknowledging the benefits and detriments which may affect the longevity of eventual application of fusion energy to the electricity grid.
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