全球核聚变竞赛，欧美急什么

Core Insights - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has released the "Fusion Energy Outlook 2025," indicating that global fusion energy exploration has entered a decisive new phase in 2023 [1] - Significant milestones have been achieved in fusion energy, particularly by the United States and China, with the U.S. National Ignition Facility (NIF) claiming a Q value greater than 4 and China's BEST project entering the assembly phase [1][2] - The report highlights a growing competition between the U.S. and China in the fusion energy sector, with increasing investments and advancements in technology [12][21] Investment and Funding - Global funding for fusion enterprises has surpassed the total amount raised in the previous year, reaching a historical high by September 2023 [13] - China's cumulative funding in fusion energy, approximately $5 billion, is still less than the U.S.'s $7.5 billion, but since 2023, China's annual funding has exceeded that of the U.S. [14] - The U.S. report indicates that China has mobilized up to $13 billion for fusion infrastructure since 2023, significantly outpacing U.S. investments [17] Technological Advancements - Fusion performance has improved tenfold over the past decade, with projections indicating that the 2030s will be a critical decade for fusion power generation [3][6] - The Lawson criteria, which determines the energy gain of fusion systems, shows that the three-product (temperature, fuel density, and confinement time) is improving at a rate of one order of magnitude every ten years [4][5] Global Competition - The U.S. and China are positioned as the primary competitors in the commercial fusion energy race, with both countries' projects nearing operational status [12][21] - The report notes that 27% of the papers submitted to the IAEA Fusion Energy Conference in 2025 are from China, surpassing the combined contributions from the U.S. and Japan [21] Supply Chain Concerns - The U.S. faces significant challenges regarding supply chain security in the fusion sector, particularly in critical minerals and components where China holds a dominant position [23][26] - Key materials such as tungsten and lithium-6 are primarily produced by China and Russia, raising concerns for U.S. energy independence [26][27] Strategic Recommendations - The U.S. report emphasizes the urgency for increased government funding and subsidies to maintain competitiveness in the fusion energy sector [28]