Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear Fusion: the first topic in a 35 part minimum series.


Nuclear Fusion is likely to be achieved incrementally, but a left field discovery could change everything. ITER probably will achieve net positive energy production in about 10-15 years time, but this is not the same thing as being commercially viable for energy production. There are encouraging discoveries in inertial confinement fusion as well. While the oft-stated adage is: "fusion energy is 40 years away, and always will be," it is probably more a case of political will being exerted to bring abundant fusion energy online.

Given enough clean energy we can have our cake and eat it too. We could suck CO2 out of the air and change it chemically into usable products. Synthesize conventional gas type fuels (albeit cleaner) from the raw elements of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Desalinate all the water the world could ever need. Dispose of cleanly and recycle virtually all waste, including old style nuclear waste, in this latter case by neutron bombardment and transmutation. Build huge cities in previously impractical locations (i.e. harsh) leaving more verdant scenes to nature and agriculture. Synthesize food directly or in multi story super farms that use artificial light, again freeing land for more natural purposes.

Here is how I would place the odds of significant progress:
10 Years 10%
20 Years 70%
50 Years 90%
100 Years 95%

Current Nuclear Fusion News