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Ops accidentally removed: Compared to PV free energy might reduce the cost of desalination by 1/3, but fusion isn’t going to be free. The core issues is drinki
by Retric 2y ago
Ops accidentally removed: Compared to PV free energy might reduce the cost of desalination by 1/3, but fusion isn’t going to be free.
The core issues is drinking water is isn’t generally a lack of water. People in rainforests still have issues getting clean water because maintaining a distribution system requires a functioning society/government which simply isn’t available in extremely poor countries.
Similarly keeping water supplies drinkable requires pollution controls which is basically non existent in such countries.
- reaperman 2y agoYep - so it's kind of a check for "Am I overexcited about fusion energy?". Seems like it would be nice to have the fusion option if it works out but we can maybe get the same benefits promised by fusion from wind + solar + a few days of energy storage. Either way it doesn't seem like it will be truly revolutionary at this point - as you showed, our problems are bigger than just cheap/clean energy, and we do have seemingly viable options for that on the near horizon anyways without fusion. I'm pro-fusion, I'd like to see more resources allocated towards its development, but my outlook on its potential impact is very tempered.