The JET project — a major step to harness energy from fusion

Abstract The recent plummeting price of oil has tended to divert attention from the fact that world reserves of fossil fuels of all kinds are strictly limited and there is still an urgent need for alternative energy sources. Of these, nuclear fusion is potentially the most promising, even though it would be unrealistic to expect commercial development until the second quarter of next century. This article reviews the substantial progress made in the JET project, an example of excellent scientific collaboration within the European Community.