Myth:
Nuclear fusion has been demonstrated to be feasible now. We should wait till it’s commercially available, to provide all the clean energy we need.
Fact:
Nuclear fusion has been demonstrated to be feasible, but will not be commercially available for decades. If we are to avoid catastrophic climate change, we must act immediately and reach net zero before nuclear fusion becomes available. This makes renewables our only viable option (although some nuclear power will be in the global energy mix).
The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor under construction in France in 2018. The project is expected to be finished in 2034. [Source: Flickr]
Source:
Danya Gainor and Angela Dewan “A giant donut-shaped machine just proved a near-limitless clean power source is possible,” CNN, 9/2/22
Ian Lowe, “Limitless power arriving too late: Why fusion won’t help us decarbonise,” Renew Economy, 25/2/22
Boštjan Videmšek, “Bottling the Sun,” CNN, 30/5/22
Ella Nilsen, “US scientists reach long-awaited nuclear fusion breakthrough, source says,” CNN, 12/12/22
Robin McKie, “Is the dream of nuclear fusion dead? Why the international experimental reactor is in ‘big trouble’,” The Guardian, 4/8/24
Sören Amelang, “Fusion power plant possible by 2045 with massive effort, says science academy,” Renew Economy, 26/3/26