The United States has successfully repeated a breakthrough in fusion energy.

On July 30, 2023, scientists at the American research center successfully conducted the second fusion reaction experiment, resulting in a net increase in energy, writes Engadget referring to Reuters.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) announced that scientists at the National Laser Fusion Facility (NIF) in the United States have achieved a higher energy yield than during the December experiment.

The exact figures of the received net energy are still unknown. An LLNL representative said researchers are still analyzing the final results.

In December, 3.15 MJ of energy was produced with a laser power of 2.05 MJ. The net output was approximately 1.1 MJ, which is equivalent to 0.31 kWh. This is enough energy to power a 50-watt LED TV for six hours.

The approach to nuclear fusion is very similar to the process that allows stars to emit light and heat. Scientists use a laser aimed at the fuel to fuse two light atoms into a denser one. This releases a large amount of energy. The process is believed to have great potential as a source of sustainable, low-carbon energy that can help fight climate change.

There is still a long way to go before fusion becomes a viable option for mass production of energy to power homes. For one thing, scientists need to scale up the system significantly. In any case, the fact that they were able to repeat the experiment and surpass the previous results is a positive step forward for clean energy.