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Nuclear fusion: Difference between revisions
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See [[:Wikipedia:Nuclear_fusion|Wikipedia: Nuclear fusion]]. | See [[:Wikipedia:Nuclear_fusion|Wikipedia: Nuclear fusion]]. | ||
== Energy | == Energy policy issues == | ||
There exist a wide consensus that the current methods for energy production are unsatisfactory in the long term, due to contamination, the greenhouse effect, diminishing resources, etc. | There exist a wide consensus that the current methods for energy production are unsatisfactory in the long term, due to contamination, the greenhouse effect, diminishing resources, etc. | ||
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<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_development Energy development]</ref> | <ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_development Energy development]</ref> | ||
Thus, making a policy choice in favour of one or the other energy option requires defining one's stance on: | Thus, making a policy choice in favour of one or the other energy option requires defining one's stance on: | ||
* The importance of climate change and the impact of the burning of fossil fuels<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergovernmental_Panel_on_Climate_Change Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]</ref><ref>[http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn11462 Climate change: A guide for the perplexed]</ref> | * The importance of climate change and the impact of the burning of fossil fuels<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergovernmental_Panel_on_Climate_Change Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]</ref><ref>[http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn11462 Climate change: A guide for the perplexed]</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T4UF_Rmlio The American denial of Global Warming]</ref> | ||
* Quantitative estimates of the energy generation potential of each of the available energy options | * Quantitative estimates of the energy generation potential of each of the available energy options | ||
* Estimates of global population growth<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_growth Population growth]</ref><ref>[http://www.populationconnection.org/ PopulationConnection.org]</ref> and expectations regarding future energy demand<ref>[http://www.worldenergyoutlook.org/ World Energy Outlook]</ref><ref>[http://www.eia.doe.gov/ U.S. Energy Information Administration]</ref>, taking into account the rapidly rising energy needs of emerging economies | * Estimates of global population growth<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_growth Population growth]</ref><ref>[http://www.populationconnection.org/ PopulationConnection.org]</ref> and expectations regarding future energy demand<ref>[http://www.worldenergyoutlook.org/ World Energy Outlook]</ref><ref>[http://www.eia.doe.gov/ U.S. Energy Information Administration]</ref>, taking into account the rapidly rising energy needs of emerging economies | ||
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A significant part of the latter complications are due to the projected use of D-T fuels (deuterium-tritium) in the first-generation fusion power plants, which is the fuel that is easiest to ignite, but which leads to intense neutron radiation. One may speculate that, if successful, a second generation of fusion power plants can be developed that runs on aneutronic fuels (such as D-D), leading to a strong reduction of the problems associated with radioactivity. | A significant part of the latter complications are due to the projected use of D-T fuels (deuterium-tritium) in the first-generation fusion power plants, which is the fuel that is easiest to ignite, but which leads to intense neutron radiation. One may speculate that, if successful, a second generation of fusion power plants can be developed that runs on aneutronic fuels (such as D-D), leading to a strong reduction of the problems associated with radioactivity. | ||
Differing from some other energy options, the implementation of energy generation by fusion is not immediate, and subject to the solution of a number of technical problems. The current consensus it that while the technical challenges are formidable, they can be overcome. Thus, the main discussion regarding fusion as an energy option is not about its technical feasibility, but about the timescales for implementation. | |||
<ref>[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2005.08.015 C. LLewellyn Smith, Fusion Engineering and Design '''74''', Issues 1-4 (2005) 3-8]</ref> | <ref>[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2005.08.015 C. LLewellyn Smith, Fusion Engineering and Design '''74''', Issues 1-4 (2005) 3-8]</ref> | ||
While increased investment and improved focus of the current research efforts can certainly help to speed up progress, even under optimal conditions the time needed to achieve the first delivery of fusion-produced energy to the electricity grid is considerable, and it is unlikely that fusion can contribute to solving the short-term energy crisis (in the coming decades). Fusion must therefore be considered an energy option for the medium to long term. | While increased investment and improved focus of the current research efforts can certainly help to speed up progress, even under optimal conditions the time needed to achieve the first delivery of fusion-produced energy to the electricity grid is considerable, and it is unlikely that fusion can contribute to solving the short-term energy crisis (in the coming decades). Fusion must therefore be considered an energy option for the medium to long term. | ||