The world is currently facing an energy shortage. Energy consumption levels are expected to double in less than 50 years, and our current energy plan, energy generation through the burning of fossil fuels, is running out fast. The burning of fossil fuels is also placing a strain on the environment through pollution. The world is currently looking for cleaner and longer term alternatives. Among the alternatives considered such as renewable sources, and other carbon free technologies, nuclear fusion comes across as the most efficient and viable solution out of this crisis.
The general idea of nuclear fusion is to force the nucleuses of atoms to fuse together under high heat, combining them to form the waste product while producing a lot of energy. Part of this energy is re-used to start another reaction and that will produce more energy. This continuous process will keep generating energy until the start products have been used up. However, scientists have not found a solution to sustain this reaction or getting huge amounts of energies from the reaction.
Currently there are projects underway to construct generators large enough to sustain such high levels of energy productions. One of the biggest projects currently under construction is the Europe International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), residing in France. This doughnut shaped reactor is a combined effort from the European Union to fund nuclear fusion research. More than seven billion pounds have been poured into this project that is expected to produce a hundred times of the initial energy needed to start the reaction off.
Sceptics of nuclear fusion claim that it is too dangerous a tool to deploy when there are safer sources available such as renewable energy. They also add that even though so much money has already been invested in nuclear fusion research, it is still not deployable. However, there is ongoing research to lessen the risks of nuclear fusion, and renewable energy, though sustainable, hardly produces enough. Furthermore, nuclear fusion is the most efficient energy production identified yet, and if successful, energy crisis will be a thing of the past, and that would justify the billions of dollars invested.
Until the day that nuclear fusion can be deployed commercially, the world could work towards carbon capture and storage (CSS), and other carbon free technologies, while relying less on fossil fuels.
Praities, N. Nuclear Fusion: Energy for the Future?. Retrieved 8th October 2008 from http://www.firstscience.com/home/articles/big-theories/nuclear-fusion-energy-for-the-future-page-1-1_17006.html
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2 comments:
Wow! I learn something new in your article. Besides danger, I think it should be considered whether pollution might be caused by the nuclear fusion.
I do not support nuclear fusion as it is simply too dangerous. Even scientists cannot sustain nuclear reaction or getting huge amounts of energies from the reaction. Whenever people talk about nuclear issues, it always creates a lot of controvery and panic as it has the potential to destroy or demolish of what we have right now. It is a very concise summary and present lots of scientific facts to support your points. Well written indeed!
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