カギを握る“メイド・イン・ジャパン”　独自“核融合発電”米国の最前線【サタデーステーション】(2026年8月29日)

Announcer Yutaka Yamaguchi: "I'd like to tell you about research that could change the future. It's about the sun. Research is progressing rapidly in America to create energy using a mechanism similar to the sun. In other words, to create a sun on Earth!" Anchor Aya Takashima: "Is that even possible?" Announcer Yutaka Yamaguchi: "That's what 'nuclear fusion' is aiming for. It can produce energy equivalent to 8 tons of oil with just 1 gram of fuel. It doesn't produce greenhouse gases. It's truly considered to be the center of next-generation energy. However, when we talk about nuclear power, we're talking about nuclear power plants. Many people might picture nuclear power plants. Nuclear power plants generate energy through fission, but nuclear fusion generates energy through fusion—the mechanisms are completely different. And now, significant progress is being made in nuclear fusion in the United States thanks to the technology of a Japanese company. I've been researching the cutting edge of this field as an investigator. This is the first time a Japanese television camera has been allowed inside." (August 29th broadcast, "Saturday Station") ◇ ■ "Nuclear Fusion Power" at the Forefront in the US: First Coverage for Japanese Television In the suburbs of Boston, USA, there is a company that is at the forefront of research and development in nuclear fusion power. Announcer Yutaka Yamaguchi (Boston, USA, June) "This is the central part of this facility, the 'tokamak hall.' Various things are being built in preparation for the 'start of demonstration operation next year.'" There are rows of objects shaped like the letter D. And a rounded, silvery object... Here, they are building a 'furnace for nuclear fusion experiments.' When completed, it will look like this. What's inside? This D-shaped part is a powerful magnet. Many of these are arranged around the central core. The pale blue glowing core is where the nuclear fusion reaction occurs. We spoke to the person in charge of development. Brandon Thorbom, Co-founder of CFS (Commonwealth Fusion Systems), Boston, USA: "The inside of the fusion reactor reaches an extremely high temperature of 100 million degrees." While the surface temperature of the sun and the temperature of the Earth's core are estimated to be between 5,000 and 6,000 degrees, 100 million degrees is an unimaginable temperature, nearly 20,000 times higher. "Nuclear fusion" is the process where "light" atomic nuclei, such as hydrogen, combine to form "heavier" atomic nuclei. A tremendous amount of energy is released during this process. To achieve nuclear fusion on Earth, an extremely high temperature of 100 million degrees is required. Because "creating and maintaining 100 million degrees" is difficult, the reaction stops immediately if fuel injection or heating is stopped. This has the significant advantage of not having the risk of runaway reactions like the "nuclear fission chain reaction" used in nuclear power plants. Nuclear fusion power is a next-generation power generation method that uses new technology to convert energy into heat, boil water to create steam, and then use that steam to power a turbine and generate electricity. Brandon Thorbom (Boston, USA), co-founder of CFS (Commonwealth Fusion Systems): "The difficult part is preventing the '100 million degree fuel' from touching walls or other surfaces." A typical method for achieving this is the "tokamak method," which uses powerful magnetic force to levitate the ultra-high-temperature material and "confine it with a magnetic field." The ITER (Independent Nuclear Fusion Research) project, in which Japan is also participating, uses the same method, and a massive experimental facility is currently under construction in France. Full-scale experiments using actual fuel are scheduled to begin in 2039, 13 years from now. ■The Key: "Made in Japan" This company aims to develop this technology about 10 years ahead of ITER. Brandon Thorbom, co-founder of CFS (Commonwealth Fusion Systems), Boston, USA: "We aim to complete and operate the experimental reactor next year." From next year onward, they plan to generate more energy than the energy invested as quickly as possible. Why are they able to proceed so quickly? Brandon Thorbom, co-founder of CFS (Commonwealth Fusion Systems), Boston, USA: "By making it a small machine, we can build it quickly and cheaply." The experimental reactor the company is building is a compact size, with a diameter of 9.5m, as can be seen when compared to a person. In contrast, the ITER, an international joint development project, is enormous, with a diameter of approximately 30m. The difference in size is clear when you place them side by side. Brandon Thorbom, co-founder of CFS (Commonwealth Fusion Systems), Boston, USA: "The reason this experimental reactor is small is because it uses powerful magnets. They're made in Japan." ◇ Aya Takashima (Anchor): "What kind of technology is this that's 'made in...