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Just a PSA: there is zero chance that nuclear fusion makes a meaningful impact in stopping climate change in the next 30 years. Before it becomes a significant
by strommen 10y ago
Just a PSA: there is zero chance that nuclear fusion makes a meaningful impact in stopping climate change in the next 30 years.
Before it becomes a significant part of our energy mix, fusion needs to be cheap, safe, and reliable.
It is nowhere close to any of these things right now, and it will take a lot of time and money to get there - especially the "cheap" part.
It's simply not going to happen before the year ~2050.
The technologies that have a chance to stop climate change are solar, wind, and energy storage.
- nernst 10y agoAnd efficiency improvements.
- slacka 10y agoThe combination of reduced spending on fusion researcher and increased demands of ITER, has resulted in a slowing of progress funneling funds aways from other designs and projects. So if we stay on the same underfunded trajectory, I agree. However, 34 years is a long time. Between now and 2050, if we had a Manhattan Project-style push, that number could be brought down to 2040 or maybe earlier depending on how soon we shifted.