Britain currently leads the world in the development of the technology through the Joint European Torus (JET) based at the Culham Science Centre in Oxfordshire, but there have been fears it would end up playing second fiddle to China, Korea or other international competitors, because of catastrophic underfunding.
Britain’s research into nuclear fusion - limitless, safe energy basically from seawater - is the envy of the world and should form the basis of a multi-billion pound export market throughout the 21st century, if we are able to open fusion-based power stations by 2050.
It is considered a green energy source with no long-term radioactive waste product. It is also inexhaustible as the hydrogen comes from sea water and lithium.
However, JET, our sole research lab receives just £40 million a year in UK public funding, and £60 million annually from the EU.
In March Express.co.uk reported on concerns the Chinese, South Koreans and Americans were threatening to take the UK technological know-how and turn it into a massively lucrative major industry, with increased investment, because of the relatively low sums being poured into it over here.
Now, it appears the Chinese are starting to take over after breaking a number of records to stabilise plasma.
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