24th September 2025 (14 Topics)

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India’s Fusion Energy Roadmap

Context:

Indian researchers at IPR Gandhinagar have outlined a roadmap for developing India’s first fusion electricity generator, SST-Bharat, targeting commercial fusion energy by 2060.

Fusion Power: From Research to Commercial Prospects

Background and Objective

Current Research Status:
- Indian Institute of Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar, is spearheading fusion research.
- Current facility:Steady-state Superconducting – 1tokamak – produces plasma for ~650 milliseconds, designed for up to 16 minutes.
Roadmap Goals:
- SST-Bharat: Fusion-fission hybrid reactor, 130 MW total, 100 MW from fission, target power output 5× input.
- Full-scale demonstration reactor by 2060: Output-to-input ratio (Q) = 20, generating 250 MW.
- Estimated construction cost: ?25,000 crore.

Fusion vs Fission

Fission:

Splitting of heavy atomic nuclei to release energy.
Backbone of current nuclear power.

Fusion:

Combining light nuclei to form heavier nuclei, releasing large energy.
Advantages over fission:
- Less radioactive waste.
- Reduced challenges in waste storage.

Requirements for Controlled Fusion:

Extremely high temperatures (~100 million °C for plasma, Sun’s core ~15 million °C).
Two main approaches:
- Magnetic confinement: Uses magnetic fields (tokamaks) – India is pursuing this via SST-1 and ITER collaboration.
- Inertial confinement: Uses powerful lasers to compress fuel capsules.

Global Context

ITER (France) collaboration: Aims for Q=10.
UK STEP: Prototype by 2040.
USA private firms: Grid-connected fusion in 2030s.
China’s EAST tokamak: Record plasma durations.
India’s target of 2060 is cautious but aligns domestic programs with global trends.

Key Technical Aspects

Tokamak:

A doughnut-shaped reactor where fusion reactions happen.
Its performance is measured by how long it can hold plasma and the Q value (energy output ÷ energy input).

Plasma Confinement:

Keeping plasma stable for a longer time brings us closer to continuous fusion energy.
Current record:WEST tokamak in France kept plasma stable for 22 minutes.

Digital Innovations:

Digital twins: Computer models that mimic the tokamak for testing ideas safely.
Using machine learning to help control plasma better.
Developing materials that can withstand high radiation inside the reactor.

China Model Consensus

International Relations India’s Foreign Policy

Trump, Law, and Power

Polity & Governance

GST 2.0 Simplification Drive

Economy

Housing for All: PMAY-G

Polity & Governance Scheme

India–China Border Dispute

International Relations

Satellite Communication in India

Science & Technology Space

H-1B Visa Fee Hike

International Relations

Recognition of Palestine

International Relations

U.S. Tariffs Hit India’s Diamond Sector

Economy

India’s Tea Industry Potential

Economy

Oju 2,200 MW Hydel Project

Economy Infrastructure

India’s Updated NDCs

Ecology and Environment

Ramdhari Singh Dinkar (1908–1974)

Miscellaneous

GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

India’s Fusion Energy Roadmap