A commercial nuclear fusion reactor is not expected to be possible before the 2030s despite US scientists achieving a net energy gain from a fusion reactor, UBS said.
“The news is exciting for the clean energy sector and appears to confirm that the challenges in nuclear fusion are practical not theoretical” added the investment bank.
A first-of-its-kind reactor available for commercial won’t appear for another decade minimum, it added, as the fusion requires temperatures of 100mln degrees Celsius.
The fusion reactors would then likely need to create energy for it to be commercially viable, UBS believe.
“The breakthrough could accelerate the pace of energy transition over the 21st century” it added.
However, the impact to a clean energy switch is unlikely to be realised in the next decade, the Swiss bank understand.
“Nevertheless, some very good news for everyone, if this weekend's reports are confirmed on Tuesday” concluded UBS.
The US Department of Energy is expected to release an official update on the breakthrough today.