China is first to create nuclear fusion plasma, and is way ahead in the most important race of all

Fusion power is the "Holy Grail" of energy, and the first country to successful deploy fusion power at scale will upend the economic order of the world.

In under two decades, China's nuclear power industry went from functionally zero, to at least fifteen years ahead of the United States in most metrics. China now leads the global field in research, and in the number and types of reactors currently under construction. China's supply chain dominance also ensures that virtually all the components and parts are domestically sourced.

Last month, a Shanghai company announced a successful test of their newest fusion reactor, and created plasma for the first time. Their reactor is much smaller than Western types, and can be built in under 4 years, instead of 30, and for just 5% of the cost of European or American designs.

China's national plans call for rollouts of fusion reactor prototypes by 2035, and economy-wide installations by 2050. If China meets these targets, while the United States and Europe are still racing to catch up, the industrial and economic advantages to China may be irreversible and permanent.

Resources and links:

Power Technology, The US is 15 years behind China in nuclear power - report
https://www.power-technology.c....om/news/the-us-is-15

How Innovative Is China in Nuclear Power?
https://itif.org/publications/....2024/06/17/how-innov

SCMP, How China’s huge industrial supply chain may lead to ‘artificial sun’ via nuclear fusion
https://www.scmp.com/news/chin....a/science/article/32

Company website, Energy Singularity
https://www.energysingularity.cn/en/technology/

China’s Energy Singularity produces first net energy positive fusion reaction
https://www.intellinews.com/ch....ina-s-energy-singula

Oil Price, China Has Just Gained First-Mover Advantage In Nuclear Fusion
https://oilprice.com/Alternati....ve-Energy/Nuclear-Po

Investopedia, First Mover Advantage
https://www.investopedia.com/t....erms/f/firstmover.as

Closing scene, The Bund, Shanghai