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 Whatever the case may be, energy generation in the near future will most likely be based on a mix of many options, that will vary in accord with  local economic, environmental, and social conditions.
-== Fusion as an energy option ==
+== Energy generation in the future ==
+As hinted at above, it appears desirable to significantly reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, due to the effect of the burning of fossil fuels on the global climate, contamination, and the accompanying loss of valuable resources (e.g., plastics).
+What alternatives are available? A host of methods for energy generation exists that do not depend on fossil fuels. Among the primary such sources are wind energy, solar energy, and hydroelectric energy. Other sources, such as geothermal energy and wave energy, are and probably will remain quantitatively less important, or compete with food supply, as is the case with biofuels.
-Fusion undoubtedly offers some important advantages. Once operative, energy supply would be virtually limitless; greenhouse gas exhaust would be zero; nuclear waste and the danger of nuclear accidents would be strongly reduced (with respect to fission power plants), and nuclear proliferation problems would be small or inexistent. On the other hand, there are complications due to the very complex technology required and the radioactive activation of the reactor vessel components.
+Hydroelectric energy is a potential 'base load' energy source, meaning that it is, or can be, available permanently and on demand. However, this energy source is only available at relatively few locations where the orography and climate is suitable.
-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.
+Wind and solar energy are potentially plentiful, but strongly dependent on local weather. Therefore, they are not generally considered to be 'base load' energy sources, and can only serve to supplement other reliable energy sources. Energy generation should not be interrupted on a cloudy, windless winter's day! Combinations of various distinct power sources could mitigate this problem somewhat, but it is unlikely that it can be eliminated.
-<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.
-== A fusion reactor ==
+Nuclear fission power is an alternative that does not contribute to the greenhouse effect and serves as base load power supply, but suffers from problems associated with nuclear waste storage and processing, and public acceptance.
-The fusion reaction that is easiest to obtain is the deuterium-tritium (DT) reaction.
+Therefore, the search for a base load power source for the future is still an unresolved issue.
-A [[:Wikipedia:Fusion power|fusion power reactor]] delivering 1 GW of electric power to the network would approximately consume 200 kg of Tritium a year. The current world reserves are about 29 kg of tritium. Thus, a nuclear fusion reactor must provide its own fuel. This is achieved using so-called [[Breeding blanket|breeders]]. Tritium breeders capture the neutrons originating from nuclear fusion reactions, generating tritium that can be used as fuel for the reactor. For more information: [[TECNO_FUS]].
+The discovery of a method to store energy on a large scale would completely change the picture, and enhance the viability of solar and wind energy; but currently, no such method is available.<ref>[[:Wikipedia:Grid_energy_storage]]</ref>
-== The need for new materials for Fusion ==
+== Fusion as an energy option ==
-A fusion power reactor delivering 1GW of electric power to the network would generate 1.3 &times; 10<sup>21</sup> neutrons per second. This flux will make any conventional iron become brittle in less than a year. For this reason, a program for testing materials under intense neutron fluxes has been launched. The aim of the [[IFMIF]] program is to develop a fast neutron generation facility.
+Fusion undoubtedly offers some important advantages.
+<ref>F.F. Chen, ''An Indispensable Truth: How Fusion Power Can Save the Planet'', {{ISBN|1441978194}}</ref>
+Once operative, energy supply would be virtually limitless; greenhouse gas exhaust would be zero; nuclear waste and the danger of nuclear accidents would be strongly reduced (with respect to fission power plants), and nuclear proliferation problems would be small or non-existent. On the other hand, there are complications due to the very complex technology required and the radioactive activation of the reactor vessel components.
+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 other fuel mixtures (such as D-D), leading to a reduction of the problems associated with radioactivity.
-Also in Spain, a program for material testing has been launched recently:
+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 is 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.
-[[TechnoFusión]].
+<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.
 ==See also==
 * [[:Wikipedia:Timeline of nuclear fusion|Timeline of nuclear fusion]]
+* [[:Wikipedia:Fusion power|Fusion power reactor]]
 * The [[ITER]] project
+* [[Stellarator reactor]]
 ==References==
 <references />