https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2022/01/02/fueled-by-billionaire-dollars-nuclear-fusion-enters-a-new-age/?sh=7ccee58e29f3

Noel

Despite being a big fan of fusion and its potential, I'm trying to be unbiased these days and consider the reality of the technology. For example, the "no radioactive waste" claim. 

The activation of the reactors structure by intense neutron fluxes is a factor, depends on what kind of structure is chosen for the blanket and other materials, but it is an important issue to be considered and does pose a challenge. 

There are low amounts of tritium too, although it does have a short half life. 

I's still a fan of the General Fusion approach, its reminiscent of an internal combustion engine, complete with pistons. There's something about it that appeals to me. 

The size of the global population and our demands for power mean this is really going to be the only realistic solution.......eventually.

So much for COP26 self interest drives the narrative.

 Fury as EU moves ahead with plans to label gas and nuclear as ‘green’ | European Commission | The Guardian

Protect the industry output now it`s not dateline but an aim, this is why China did not attend they aim to reduce carbon but don`t commit. AIM IS THE KEY WORD.   

16 hours ago, G-RFRY said:

So much for COP26 self interest drives the narrative.

 Fury as EU moves ahead with plans to label gas and nuclear as ‘green’ | European Commission | The Guardian

Protect the industry output now it`s not dateline but an aim, this is why China did not attend they aim to reduce carbon but don`t commit. AIM IS THE KEY WORD.   

They are simply, and finally, acknowledging the reality of energy production.  There is no practical and affordable way to provide 100% "clean" power using only solar panels and wind turbines.  Nuclear needs to be a significant part of the mix, and if you don't like nuclear, then natural gas is the only alternative.

European climate goals are somewhat amusing, as they have little to no hope of reaching them by their arbitrary deadline, and they know it.  Actually, they could reach them, but it would require enormous sacrifices on the part of ordinary citizens(not the wealthy "elite") in the form of skyrocketing energy costs and painful reductions in consumption, something the "leaders" are reluctant to impose.  Natural gas and electricity prices in Europe are already quite high and increasing at a very high rate.

China has no intention of meeting any climate goals.  They'll make promises and take some token measures, but they won't do anything that would hinder the growth of their power.

Dave

Fusion power would be a game-changer. 

Not only would it solve the problem of producing enough "clean" power, but it would allow the creation of powerful ion plasma engines to propel spacecraft to Mars and beyond.

Dave

Germany know they cannot hit the target set at COP26 it would damage German industry which they will protect at all cost 

In fact Germany shutting down Nuclear power stations has forced them to use coalfired power stations more, and will only be fazed out when putin sells them more gas at high prices. 

Edited January 5, 20224 yr by G-RFRY

Like Pogo said..."We have found the enemy and it is us."

Noel

What happens when the power does go out?  It happened in Texas less than a year ago when three winter storms caused a power crisis in the state which has its own power grid and was not able to import power from out of state sources.  Some people had to take out a second mortgage on their homes just to pay 9,000 dollars for the power they used in just 5 days.  The irresponsibility and price gouging of some of Texas' power providers during the crisis is outlined in the Wiki article below.

The long and the short of it is we do need reliable and sustainable power sources like nuclear or fusion because what we have now can result in severe physical and financial hardship when the unexpected happens.  Especially for power plants that need fuel like natural gas and coal to be transported.  That happened in Texas when natural gas lines were interrupted when pumps froze.

The majority of us take power for granted.  We flip a switch and the lights go on.  We set the thermostat and we get heat...except when we don't. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Texas_power_crisis

Noel

This will be interesting...

20 hours of renewable energy every day, straight to UK homes. When the sun doesn't shine in the UK, it does in Morocco. Expect more developments in terms of the international grid in the future. 

https://xlinks.co/morocco-uk-power-project/

 

"The Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project will be a new electricity generation facility entirely powered by solar and wind energy combined with a battery storage facility. Located in Morocco’s renewable energy rich region of Guelmim Oued Noun, it will cover an approximate area of 1,500km² and will be connected exclusively to Great Britain via 3,800km HVDC sub-sea cables.

This “first of a kind” project will generate 10.5GW of zero carbon electricity from the sun and wind to deliver 3.6GW of reliable energy for an average of 20+ hours a day. This is enough to provide low-cost, clean power to over 7 million British homes by 2030. Once complete, the project will be capable of supplying 8 percent of Great Britain’s electricity needs.

Alongside the consistent output from its solar panels and wind turbines, an onsite 20GWh/5GW battery facility provide sufficient storage to reliably deliver each and every day, a dedicated, near-constant source of flexible and predictable clean energy for Britain."

 

I find it fascinating that a 10,000 Square kilometere photovoltaic array in the desert could in theory power the entire world's needs. The issue is in terms of distribution of course, how you get that power to its international destinations, and the political stability required to make it feasible.

Edited January 5, 20224 yr by martin-w

2 hours ago, martin-w said:

20 hours of renewable energy every day, straight to UK homes. When the sun doesn't shine in the UK, it does in Morocco. Expect more developments in terms of the international grid in the future

That is indeed an ambitious project.  I think it's a good way to exploit areas of the earth that are more favorable for wind and solar power.

The company claims that the electricity cost will be below the UK govt's future forecasts.  Moreover, they claim there are no govt. subsidies.  Nice.

The U.S currently gets about 3% of its electricity from solar.  We're on track to increase that a lot over the next 25 years.

Nice to see that solar plants located thousands of miles away are becoming practical and affordable means for providing power.

Dave

 

 

Helion Energy claim they will have commercially available electricity within ten years. Their novel system does away with the power station entirely, as in no water to heat, the accelerating plasma induces current directly.

 

https://www.helionenergy.com/our-technology/

11 hours ago, dave2013 said:

The company claims that the electricity cost will be below the UK govt's future forecasts.  Moreover, they claim there are no govt. subsidies.

 

Yeah, slightly more expensive than wind farms but much cheaper than new nuclear.

Costs will be saved by building the cable themselves in their own facility in the UK. Should be great for employment too.

No subsidies is great, but ironically the fossil fuel industry isn't held to the same standards with over 5.9 trillion in subsidies each year.

Edited January 6, 20224 yr by martin-w

Yes import your energy like we did with oil and now gas in the EU then they hold you too ransom, in the UK in the 70s with petrol coupons when OPEC turned the tap off and you pay more or else. 

Just like CHINA will with production of materials and in less than 20 years will be number 1 in the world. Last year Apple invested 7.8 trillion in China production.

Edited January 6, 20224 yr by G-RFRY

We have a huge solar 'farm' just outside of Roswell.  And south of Carlsbad near the Texas border is a huge wind 'farm'.  

States like New Mexico and Arizona that get 300 days of sunshine a year are ideal for solar 'farms'.  So we can probably copy Morocco and send power to the other states.  Underground cables are better than underground oil and gas lines.

Noel