In conversation with Prof Xavier Garbet: Driving fusion energy development
Prof Xavier Garbet shares how the Temasek Chair Professorship in Clean Energy at NTU Singapore supports research that advances the future of fusion energy.
Text: Jesmine Ong
Fusion, the energy that powers the sun, has long been seen as the holy grail of clean energy. Nearly limitless, carbon-free, and inherently safe, it offers the promise of transforming how the world powers itself.
But creating fusion energy on Earth is incredibly complex. Scientists must understand how charged particles are confined in the plasma – a super-hot state of matter – and how to keep it stable long enough to produce useful energy.
Appointed the inaugural Temasek Chair Professor in Clean Energy in August 2022, Professor Xavier Garbet’s work starts with understanding this plasma behaviour. At temperatures hotter than the sun’s core, plasma becomes turbulent and loses particles and energy. Large instabilities can quickly disrupt the reaction, making sustained fusion incredibly difficult.
Prof Garbet’s research addresses this challenge at its roots. A leading expert in transport processes and plasma turbulence, he develops advanced theoretical and computational models to predict and optimise plasma behaviour inside fusion reactors.
“Fusion requires precision – understanding how heat and particles move, how turbulence behaves, and how plasma can be kept stable long enough to create meaningful energy,” Prof Garbet explains.
At NTU, this challenge brings together researchers from different fields. Prof Garbet and his team aim to develop faster, AI-driven surrogate models, built from first-principle codes created with partners. These tools help optimise reactor performance and accelerate fusion design.
The professorship also strengthens NTU’s global research partnerships. Through the Singapore Alliance with France for Fusion Energy (SAFE), NTU works closely with the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), one of Europe’s leading fusion research agencies. The partnership brings together complementary strengths – NTU’s expertise in computing and AI, and CEA’s deep experience in experimental and theoretical plasma physics.
Prof Garbet in discussion with Dr Yanick Sarazin, Research Director of Plasma Physics at CEA.
Beyond recognition, the Temasek Chair Professorship in Clean Energy provides sustained support for high-risk, high-reward research that’s necessary for breakthrough discoveries.
“Philanthropic partnerships make long-term research possible. They enable high-impact work that strengthens Singapore’s leadership in clean energy innovation,” says Prof Garbet.
As countries search for sustainable energy solutions, fusion research is gaining momentum worldwide. By investing in fundamental science today, NTU is positioning Singapore to contribute to the global effort to unlock one of the most promising energy sources of the future.
Learn more about NTU’s Professorships here.
