4 ms·

I don't like the communication that's been set forth by LLNL and DOE, it has misled many people into thinking that fusion is a done deal and we're on our way to

I don't like the communication that's been set forth by LLNL and DOE, it has misled many people into thinking that fusion is a done deal and we're on our way to limitless, clean energy. The reality is that charging up the lasers takes about 400 MJ, then due to very large inefficiencies you only get 2 MJ directed to the target, and they got out 3 MJ from the fusion reaction. So we did not get more energy than we put in. We started by using 400 MJ, and got 3 MJ in return. We're not net positive energy generation. Nothing will change in our daily lives yet. And a lot of people that have been misled by the reports are going to be very disappointed. This is a problem, because we're overhyping results and we're setting ourselves up for disappointment. And this can lead to resentment and funding getting cut. The results are unequivocally good. But they're being portrayed as something they're not. We are yet unable to generate more energy than we put in.

NotYourLawyer 4y ago
And let’s also not forget that the 3 MJ is just heat. It still needs to spin a turbine if we want to turn some of it (maybe half? maybe less?) into electricity.
- ethbr0 4y ago
  About 35%
defrost 4y ago
Not that I like to nitpick but it's important to note that > and got 3 MJ in return we didn't even "get" anything .. being able to catch and use released energy is whole other non trivial box of kittens.
SantalBlush 4y ago
This is how scientific progress works; you can't just buy it pre-assembled from Amazon.
datadata 4y ago
They reached "scientific breakeven", you are referring to "engineering breakeven" or "economic breakeven". The vocabulary here is nicely defined: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_energy_gain_factor https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_energy_gain_factor
ablatt89 4y ago
I think it's the only way they can garner interest and gain more funding. Fusion energy has always "50 years away." I agree it's a bit misleading but what else can LLNL do to attract more funding? I'm really not quite sure.

NotYourLawyer 4y ago

And let’s also not forget that the 3 MJ is just heat. It still needs to spin a turbine if we want to turn some of it (maybe half? maybe less?) into electricity.

ethbr0 4y ago
About 35%

defrost 4y ago

Not that I like to nitpick but it's important to note that > and got 3 MJ in return we didn't even "get" anything .. being able to catch and use released energy is whole other non trivial box of kittens.

SantalBlush 4y ago

This is how scientific progress works; you can't just buy it pre-assembled from Amazon.

datadata 4y ago

They reached "scientific breakeven", you are referring to "engineering breakeven" or "economic breakeven". The vocabulary here is nicely defined: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_energy_gain_factor https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_energy_gain_factor

ablatt89 4y ago

I think it's the only way they can garner interest and gain more funding. Fusion energy has always "50 years away." I agree it's a bit misleading but what else can LLNL do to attract more funding? I'm really not quite sure.