While there is a great deal of excitement about fusion, there are huge challenges too.
Jose A. Bernat Bacete | Moment | Getty Images
The U.K. government has chosen the location for a prototype fusion energy plant, with the country’s Energy Secretary, Jacob Rees-Mogg, describing the technology as “a great hope.”
In a statement Monday, authorities said the STEP facility would be based at the West Burton power station, in Nottinghamshire, England. The aim is to build STEP, which stands for Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production, by 2040.
The government said it would provide £220 million (around $249.6 million) of funding for the STEP project’s first phase, in which the U.K. Atomic Energy Authority will ready a concept design by 2024.
Fusion is not the same as fission, which is used in today’s nuclear power plants. The U.S. Department of Energy describes fusion as occurring “when two atoms slam together to form a heavier atom, like when two hydrogen atoms fuse to form one helium atom.”
The DOE adds that this “is the same process that powers the sun and creates huge amounts of energy—several times greater than fission. It also doesn’t produce highly radioactive fission products.”
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In a speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Rees-Mogg, who is the U.K.’s secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, sought to highlight the potential of fusion.
“Fusion is a great hope, it is a potential ace up our sleeve,” he said. “It offers unparalleled potential for clean power production, promising a future of inexhaustible energy that could unshackle us from hydrocarbons and make us truly self-sufficient and secure,” he went on to add.
While there is a great deal of excitement about fusion, there are huge challenges too. The DOE says fusion reactions are “difficult to sustain for long periods of time” due to what it says are “the tremendous amount of pressure and temperature needed to join the nuclei together.”
In his speech, Rees-Mogg made a similar point when he acknowledged that the technological hurdles were “big.” Nevertheless, he was bullish about the U.K.’s prospects going forward.
“We will build the U.K.’s first prototype fusion energy plant in Nottinghamshire, replacing the West Burton coal-fired power station with a beacon of bountiful green energy,” he said.
“The plant will be the first of its kind, built by 2040 and capable of putting energy on the grid. And in doing so, it will prove the commercial viability of fusion energy to the world.”
West Burton A is a coal-fired power station that started generation in 1966. Generation at the facility is slated to end in March 2023.
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Monday’s announcement was welcomed by the nuclear industry. Tom Greatrex, who is chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said the news represented “a huge moment for fusion energy in the UK.”
“As we look to moving away from fossil fuels towards net zero, it is important that we find new ways of meeting our growing energy demands,” he later added.
“Fusion offers the opportunity to produce virtually limitless energy that will power low-carbon economies across the world. The UK can play a central role in making that a reality.”
The past few years have seen a number of significant developments in the fusion energy sector.
This surpassed a previous record from 1997, when 22 megajoules of heat energy was generated. The results were achieved at the Joint European Torus, or JET, facility in Oxfordshire, U.K.
Co-funded by the European Commission, Eurofusion is made up of thousands of engineers, scientists, students and other experts from throughout Europe.
The amount of energy produced by the experiment was not huge, however, with reports at the time stating that 59 megajoules could boil around 60 kettles of water.
The IONIQ 5 N is the fastest Hyundai ever made, electric or gas-powered. The sporty electric car is so good that it’s now drawing the attention of some of the industry’s finest. Hyundai’s EV sports car was recently spotted outside a Lamborghini test facility. Check out the video below.
Hyundai’s EV sports car caught at a Lamborghini test site
As the first EV to wear its “N” badge, Hyundai aimed to set the bar even higher. And that it did. The IONIQ 5 N is not only the most powerful Hyundai, it’s also the most fun to drive with a series of track-ready features.
Based on its advanced E-GMP platform, Hyundai’s electric sports car delivers up to 641 hp. That’s when using its N Grin boost feature, which gives you a 10-second power surge.
When on the track, N Launch control enables you to adjust to different road conditions for the perfect takeoff. Other features, like N e-Shift, simulate an 8-speed N Dual Clutch Transmission, making it feel like you’re in a true race car.
With N Active Sound+, you cannot only feel the performance but also hear it. Eight internal and two external features sync to your vehicle’s performance.
Hyundai’s EV sports car is apparently good enough to attract Lamborghini’s attention. A Hyundai IONIQ 5 N model was recently spotted leaving Lamborghini’s test facility.
The video from YouTuber Varryx shows a Lamborghini test driver leaving the “Porta Sud,” suggesting the sports car maker could be benchmarking Hyundai’s EV.
Lamborghini unveiled the Lanzador in 2023, its first fully electric vehicle. The concept introduces a new high-ground-clearance GT with 2+2 seating. Or, in other words, like a supercar sitting on an SUV. It’s expected to launch in 2029.
Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 N already beat a Lamborghini Urus Performante in a drag race (see the video here), so it’s no wonder the Italian sports car maker is taking notes.
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The board of directors of the troubled hydrogen fuel cell maker has voted to dissolve the company that developed the first HFC garbage truck to North America last spring, pending shareholder approval.
After a promising global start that saw the American startup announce pilot programs that would see its hydrogen fuel cells put to work in transit buses in Brisbane, its tow trucks (above) in Victoria, and five 154-ton severe duty trucks scheduled to service a zinc refinery operation in north Queensland, slow sales and an inability to deliver on its ambitious goals saw the company quit Australia in July.
Now, Hyzon is quitting altogether.
After issuing a WARN letter to employees in December announcing layoff plans, citing an inability to raise funding and the future uncertainty relating to the availability of government subsidies. Now, it appears the Hyzon board of directors has unanimously voted to dissolve the company and liquidate its assets (pending shareholder approval).
Unanimously approved, subject to stockholder approval, the transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets through an assignment for the benefit of creditors, and the liquidation and dissolution of the Company pursuant to a plan of dissolution while continuing to pursue strategic alternatives and potential funding sources intended to maximize the value of its business and assets.
If Hyzon is unable to find a buyer or an patient, bullish customer soon, expect all of Hyzon’s staff at its Bolingbrook, Illinois and Troy, Michigan facilities to be laid off by the end of February 2025.
Data scientists at General Motors (GM) are using AI and machine learning to pinpoint ideal EV charging station locations across the US.
As EV sales hit record highs for GM in 2024, many drivers are still unsure where to charge their vehicles. To tackle this, GM has partnered with EVgo and Pilot Travel Centers to boost public charging options and improve the overall charging experience.
Partnerships with EVgo and Pilot Travel Centers
GM and EVgo are working together to install 2,850 DC fast charging stalls nationwide. This includes 400 flagship fast-charging locations in major metro areas with 350 kW chargers for ultra-fast charging. These stations feature pull-through layouts for easier vehicle maneuvering, bright lighting for safety, and canopies to protect against the elements.
Additionally, GM has teamed up with Pilot Flying J and EVgo to add up to 2,000 DC fast chargers at 500 Pilot and Flying J travel centers. So far, more than 130 locations are operational.
Using AI to site EV charging stations
To ensure new charging stations are sited where they’ll have the most impact, GM’s data scientists are tapping into artificial intelligence. AI tools analyze EV traffic patterns, driver behaviors, and existing infrastructure to identify optimal locations for chargers.
By treating site selection as a mathematical optimization problem, these algorithms evaluate factors like traffic flow and proximity to other chargers. The results are then visualized on detailed maps, helping stakeholders understand the reasoning behind each recommendation. Human experts review and refine these suggestions to finalize charging site plans.
Once the data-driven decisions are made, GM works with its partners to bring these strategic charging stations online.
This approach blends advanced technology with industry collaboration to tackle one of the most significant hurdles for EV adoption, ensuring drivers have the confidence to make the switch.
What do you think about the use of AI to site EV charging stations? Let us know in the comments below.
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