nuclear-news

Nuclear Fusion: Energy Breakthrough or Ballyhoo?

Forbes, Ariel Cohen, 18 Aug 23,

After scientists worldwide dispelled the false promises surrounding the purported superconductor LK-99, another scientific breakthrough in nuclear fusion naturally drew scrutiny. Nuclear fusion has been “10 years away” for decades – why should this be any different? This narrative and accompanying headlines mean fusion advances are sometimes lost in technobabble. The latest developments in nuclear fusion may not herald an age of limitless emission-free energy just yet. Still, they represent a concrete step forward for the greenest energy source known to humanity.

In December 2022, a breakthrough for nuclear fusion occurred when more energy was released than used in creating the reaction, finally passing the “break-even point.” This recent innovation was duplicated when the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California recently repeated its success. The response released a higher energy yield than ever before. However, these breakthroughs are limited: they were not energy positive for the entire system, only for the lasers used in the reaction. The power generated was less than what a refrigerator uses to run in one day and had to be created at the National Ignition Facility in an area the size of a football stadium. Nuclear fusion remains more than 10 years away. It is hard for mere humans to replicate a fusion reaction found only in stars.

A fusion reaction does not contradict the known fundamentals of physics. The problems scientists encounter are one of actualization, not conception………………….

Cost efficiency is the most serious challenge…………………………………………….

Supply and logistical issues also hamper nuclear fusion, with almost all the most critical components involved in fusion being in dangerously short supply. ……………………………….

The environmental costs of nuclear fusion should also not be underestimated. ……………………………….

Loose in the environment, tritium is dangerous for approximately 120 years. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) notes that the United States does not currently operate a permanent disposal facility for high-level nuclear waste, significantly complicating nuclear projects. This situation reflects the US Department of Energy’s myopic policy for decades.

………………………… Ironically, the hypothetical possibilities of nuclear fusion also present a problem. Nuclear fusion can theoretically emit so much energy so fast that scientists are still determining how small reactions can be scaled down. Without significant energy grid investment, it is possible that nuclear fusion would remain tragically out of reach because it could push too much energy too fast onto a grid that couldn’t distribute excess supply………..  https://www.forbes.com/sites/arielcohen/2023/08/16/nuclear-fusion-energy-breakthrough-or-ballyhoo/?sh=4a3691442ad4

August 19, 2023 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | technology