A WORLD renowned scientists in Oxfordshire could soon provide the answer for a ‘near-limitless’ green energy source has been given approval from the future King.

Yesterday, the Prince of Wales paid visit to scientists and engineers at the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s Joint European Torus (JET), which is based at Culham Science Centre, near Abingdon.

The science centre is currently pioneering the way for a cleaner, green energy source with its world-leading fusion experiment.

Joe Milnes, head of the JET operations in Culham explained: “Effectively fusion is when you take gases and you get them very, very hot and at a reasonably high pressure, and if you get them hot enough, at high enough pressure, they will fuse together, produce new elements and a lot of energy and what we want to do is master that process so that we can use that energy to turn into electricity in a future fusion power plant.”

Mr Milnes said that it was ‘thrilling’ that Prince Charles had ‘requested’ to visit the site, before adding the Royal was ‘clearly interested and engaged’ in the potential for fusion energy.

The science site is home to the world’s largest and most powerful tokamak – a machine that creates fusion energy, by recreating the same type of energy that powers the sun and the stars.

The fusion reaction creates energy but does not release carbon into the environment, unlike the production of energy by burning coal, oil or gas, therefore promising a ‘near-limitless’ green electricity source.

Unlike most Royal visits, where an invitation is sent to the Royal, Prince Charles requested to visit the JET and meet with its engineers and scientists, to see the true impact such technology could have on a greener future.

His Royal Highness has a long history of advocating for a sustainable future and showed a key interest in the role fusion energy could play in the future.

The HRH Prince of Wales told the CEO of UKAEA, Professor Ian Chapman, ‘we’ve got to do this’ when discussing fusion energy.

The JET was officially opened by the prince’s mother, Her Majesty the Queen, in 1984.

Almost 40 years later, experts based at UKAEA’S Culham Science Centre discussed with The Prince of Wales how fusion promises to be an important part of the low-carbon energy mix in the second half of the century, as well as creating ‘significant economic opportunities’ for Britain.

Prof Chapman, said speaking after the event: “It was an honour to welcome His Royal Highness to our world-leading fusion energy research and development facility and showcase the ground-breaking JET machine.

“We agreed significant changes are needed to decarbonise the energy supply, and how fusion energy has huge potential to address that challenge.

“The Prince of Wales was very keen to understand more about how fusion can be a critical piece of the future global energy puzzle and Britain’s leadership position in overcoming the great scientific and engineering challenges set before us.”