3 ms·
Fusion reactors also consume a lot of energy. ITER plans to have a gain factor of 10, making 500MW of heat -- not electricity -- out of 50MW. According to wikip
by bewo001 9y ago
Fusion reactors also consume a lot of energy. ITER plans to have a gain factor of 10, making 500MW of heat -- not electricity -- out of 50MW. According to wikipedia, a gain factor of 22 would be needed for commercial operation. The record is a gain factor of 0.67..
If fusion will ever become economically viable is an open question.
- Nomentatus 9y agoBut that gain factor declines steeply if sunk costs decline, as they would for smaller reactors producing more energy per pound installed.