3 ms·
Fusion will absolutely not be "10x cheaper", in any possible circumstance. Rather, it would necessarily be at least 10x as costly as fission; and fission is not
by ncmncm 4y ago
Fusion will absolutely not be "10x cheaper", in any possible circumstance. Rather, it would necessarily be at least 10x as costly as fission; and fission is not now competitive, and gets less competitive all the time.
Solar and wind cost are still falling sharply, so you may well find power substantially cheaper in the future. There won't be any fusion plants at all, because no one will put up money to build any.
- Apocryphon 4y agoThere will be a fusion plant in space, because to build an interstellar vessel you need a source of power that is not dependent upon wind (which is absent in space), nor solar (which decreases in power the further you are away from stars).
- denton-scratch 4y agoUnstated premise: there will be an interstellar vessel. Unstated premise: you can't use a fission plant.
- Apocryphon 4y agoBy the time a proper interstellar vessel is to be designed, we will no longer be dependent upon the hoary '50s plans of Project Orion.
- temphypercube 4y agoThere's no need to fling bombs; much better to just superheat gas and expel it.