Nuclear fusion is the reaction that powers the sun. For decades, scientists have planned on recreating this reaction here on earth as it would provide the whole world with a safe, environmentally-friendly and unlimited supply of energy. France has took the first step towards building this nuclear fusion reactor by investing £13bn into the Iter project. Iter expects that the nuclear reactor will be up and running in the 2030s.

“A Fukushima-like accident is impossible at Iter because the fusion reaction is fundamentally safe. Any disturbance from ideal conditions and the reaction will stop. A runaway nuclear reaction and a core meltdown are simply not possible,” says Carlos Alejaldre, Iter’s deputy director responsible for safety.

“There are no technical issues any more that will be show-stoppers. We think we’ve overcome all the technical issues,” said Dr Haange, the deputy director-general of the Iter project