In an unassuming industrial park 30 miles outside Boston, engineers are building a futuristic machine to replicate the energy of the stars. If all goes to plan, it could be the key to producing virtually unlimited, clean electricity in the United States in about a decade.
The donut-shaped machine Commonwealth Fusion Systems is assembling to generate this energy is simultaneously the hottest and coldest place in the entire solar system, according to the scientists who are building it.
It is inside that extreme environment in the so-called tokamak that they smash atoms together in 100-million-degree plasma. The nuclear fusion reaction is surrounded by a magnetic field more than 400,000 times more powerful than the Earth's and chilled with cryogenic gases close to absolute zero.
The fusion reaction — forcing two atoms to merge — is what creates the energy of the sun. It is the exact opposite of what the world knows now as "nuclear power" — a fission reaction that splits atoms.
Nuclear fusion has far greater energy potential, with none of the safety concerns around radioactive waste.
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📸 : Sophie Park for CNN
A major investment of up to £1bn from ENGIE and CDPQ will refurbish the Dinorwig and Ffestiniog hydro plants, critical components of the UK’s energy infrastructure. Together accounting for around three-quarters of the nation’s pumped hydro storage, this upgrade supports the transition to net zero whole life carbon and more energy-efficient buildings. Enhancing hydro infrastructure is key to reducing the carbon footprint of construction and advancing environmental sustainability in construction.
Building renewal projects highlight the sector’s commitment to sustainable building design and the balance of heritage preservation with improved sustainability. The redevelopment of the Royal College of Music’s East Courtyard and the restoration of Elizabeth Tower both use eco-design for buildings and sustainable construction practices. These efforts ensure low carbon design does not compromise historic value while meeting modern whole life carbon assessment standards.
Digital transformation is driving resource efficiency in construction. New inventory management systems are reducing material waste and support circular economy strategies by lowering embodied carbon in materials and minimising excess. Implementing lifecycle assessment and life cycle thinking in construction leads to measurable cost and carbon footprint reduction, while supporting green construction and low carbon building objectives.
The UK Green Building Council is seeking industry input to develop a clear definition of 'nature positive' for the built environment. This sector-wide consultation has a strong focus on establishing credible benchmarks that prevent greenwashing. Input from construction professionals will help ensure environmental product declarations (EPDs) and sustainable building practices become central to future standards for environmental responsibility.
Coastal landfill erosion and the risk of toxic waste leakage underscore the urgency for resilient waste management and integration of climate adaptation into sustainable material specification. These environmental challenges reinforce the need for carbon neutral construction, end-of-life reuse in construction, and building lifecycle performance strategies that protect public health and natural ecosystems.
The construction industry’s pivot to low embodied carbon materials, circular economy in construction, and net zero carbon buildings reflects an ongoing transition. Strong investment, technology adoption, and collaboration are accelerating progress towards decarbonising the built environment and achieving global sustainability targets.
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