Inside the Dynomak: A Fusion Technology Cheaper Than Coal

As we always say, it'll be good if it works - but...

Inside the Dynomak: A Fusion Technology Cheaper Than Coal

I think fusion-generated electricity is many, many years away. If ever.
As far as cost goes, it was predicted that fission plants would be so cheap that people wouldn't even have electric meters on their houses; they would just pay a dollar or two a month. Of course, it turned out that fission-generated juice is the most expensive there is. I wouldn't doubt that it will be the same with fusion, if it ever happens.

I agree with Howard here, fusion power is always "just 40 years away."  The technical difficulties, as I have read about them, sound just 1000x more complicated than cheaper power generation methods.

That hasn't stopped a local company from breaking ground on a brand new fusion power facility.  Color me skeptical.

Whatever happened to the TRIGA reactor?

The tokamak managed a 5-second burst, the limit the machine could be allowed to operate without melting down.

Perhaps the "40 years away" is now down to just "35 years away."

The Natrium reactor appears to be a competitor of the TRIGA, and it is now way less than "40 years away." I have long thought new-generation nuclear was the solution to climate change and power needs. This is the first I've heard that somebody's actually building one.

Is fusion less than 40 years away finally?

Probably not.

Quote :

...this result is miles away from actual energy gain required for the production of electricity. Therefore, we can say (it) is a success of the science but a long way from providing useful energy.

Another new approach. This one does look more promising than tokamak reactors, but still needs a lot of work.

A New Way to Achieve Nuclear Fusion: Helion

Oddly enough Richard, the link you shared is to the facility I mentioned in the third post, which was just being built a couple miles from my house.  Apparently they've successfully created fusion in the lab.

Whether this fusion energy is capturable, or whether this fusion energy is anywhere near self-sustaining, is yet to be revealed.

The South Korean tokamak just managed 48 seconds. This is, despite everything, impressive.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/01/climate/nuclear-fusion-record-korea-climate-intl/index.html

The Onion is apparently sending out articles for unsuspecting periodicals to pick up.
https://www.ecoticias.com/en/impossible-atom-engine-einstein/1658/