Review article
https://doi.org/10.37798/2024731497
Is Nuclear Fusion Losing the Race with Global Warming?
Vladimir Knapp
; University of Zagreb Faculty of electrical engineering and computing, Zagreb, Croatia
Nikola Dragić
; University of Zagreb Faculty of electrical engineering and computing, Zagreb, Croatia
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
According to plans for development of fusion energy, the first stage is construction of device tokamak ITER [1] with main task of establishing burning gas plasma with required stability and duration. This stage should be accomplished by 2035, starting in 2005. The next stage should be the construction of complex DEMO [2] with the task of producing all the equipment for energy production and finally producing large amounts of carbon free energy. We do not want to make predictions on the outcome of fusion program, wishing the final success to the thousands of scientists and engineers who are contributing to this heroic effort. However, there are reasons to think (Seife [18], Stork [7]) that the time is too short. Starting with a planned date of end of work with ITER by 2035, we estimate that one needs to add 25 years for development of DEMO. We cannot see production of fusion energy before 2060. However more reliable energy sources are recommended when our existence is in question. We have problems with remarks by Stork and Seife. If solar, wind and hydro energy, and nuclear fission with high safety reactors can be deployed earlier than fusion, it must have a preference.
Keywords
nuclear fusion; DEMO; ITER; tokamak; nuclear fission; PWR; molten salt reactors; solar energy; OTEC; global warming; climate change
Hrčak ID:
315568
URI
Publication date:
25.3.2024.
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