Nuclear fusion has long been a futuristic power source of sci-fi: clean, non-radioactive, bountiful energy capable of exceeding all of humanity’s needs. And a recent breakthrough has shown it’s surprisingly within reach. This promising new source of energy could power desalination and better carbon capture, and revolutionize our approach to consumption and climate change. Read the full transcript here. (Presented by EY)
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Featuring
Annalisa Merelli is the host of season 4 of the Quartz Obsession podcast, and a senior reporter covering the intersection of inequality and healthcare. She is obsessed with romantic comedies, interspecies friendships, and having strong opinions about the way you make Italian food.
Aurora Almendral is a senior reporter at Quartz, covering climate and supply chains. She is obsessed with niche industries and distant futures.
Show notes
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Spider-Man 2 (2004) directed by Sam Raimi (Sony)
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Fusion power has long been promised as an almost boundless source of clean energy, but excitement over its potential has recently been dampened by a growing consensus that the technologies required for its realization are much farther away than originally thought. While the long-term potential of fusion remains exciting, it is important to guard against overreacting to recent reports, and to instead focus our energy on researching and developing the skills, knowledge and systems we need to bring this valuable source of energy to fruition.
As outlined in a study by the US National Academies, fusion has great promise as an energy source but is far from being commercially viable in the near future. Fusion power works by merging atomic nuclei and converting the energy released through this process into electricity. The theory has been around since the 1930s and over $25 billion has been invested in the field over the last two decades, but the challenges that fusion poses are considerable.
The most prominent of these challenges are related to the high temperatures and pressures needed to achieve the desired reaction. Many of the materials used in fusion systems would be too weak to withstand these forces under normal conditions, so immense engineering challenges must be overcome in order to make fusion a reality. As a result, the study concluded that fusion power is at least two decades away from being commercially viable.
Despite this, the potential for clean, sustainable power generated from fusion is undeniable. If achieved, fusion could provide us with a virtually limitless supply of sustainable energy that is cleaner than any of the alternatives available today. This makes understanding and overcoming the significant engineering challenges of fusion an extremely valuable pursuit.
Rather than reacting to the news with discontent or abandoning hope in the potential of fusion, we must remain focused on conducting the research and development needed to make fusion a reality. This includes investment in training scientists and engineers, developing innovative materials, and reimagining traditional engineering approaches. This sustained effort over the long term will make it more likely that we can innovatively and successfully tap into fusion’s potential benefits.
In conclusion, while progress towards realizing a viable fusion power system is slower than initially thought, its potential to revolutionize global power production remains. Instead of reacting to the recent reports with pessimism or apathy, we must remain committed to understanding and overcoming the engineering challenges posed by fusion. This is the best strategy for ensuring that we can make fusion power a reality sooner rather than later.
