A Brief Overview of Fusion Energy
If I told you that in thirty years a glass of seawater could be used to produce over one thousand kilowatt hours of energy, without producing any greenhouse gases, you would be pretty shocked (assuming you enjoy nerdy STEM stuff like I do and know what a kilowatt hour is). Despite how outlandish or inconceivable this may sound, this may be possible in our lifetime through fusion energy.
What Even is Fusion Energy?
Fusion energy, or fusion power, is a way of generating power by harnessing the power of a thermonuclear fusion reaction. Fusion energy is made possible by thermonuclear fusion, which is when two atomic nuclei reach such a high temperature that they are able to combine into one. Since the mass of the new combined nucleus is less than the components, the lost mass is converted to energy, because E = mc2 (Energy = mass(speed of light)^2). This fusion of the two nuclei creates an unimaginably large deal of energy. In order to achieve fusion on Earth, we need the technology to sustain a plasma. Plasmas are gasses that can reach high enough temperatures that the electrons can disperse from their atoms. We would use two heavy isotopes of hydrogen named deuterium, which is found in sea-water and tritium, which can be created from lithium.
Have you ever wondered why the sun is so hot? Thermonuclear fusion is actually responsible for the sun’s heat. Within the sun’s core, a specific type of nuclear fusion, proton-proton fusion (where two protons, or hydrogen nuclei, fuse to make helium) occurs, which creates a massive release of energy. This energy radiates throughout our entire solar system and makes it possible for life to occur on Earth. Imagine being able to harness the power of the sun on Earth and using it to power every single thing in the world. Fusion energy is a virtually limitless source of energy and might not be as far away as we think.
Why is Fusion Energy so Great?
Despite how dangerous fusion may sound, fusion energy is actually much safer than other conventional methods of gathering energy. Sheila Gonzalez de Vicente, Nuclear Fusion Physicist from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), states that the fusion reaction is inherently safe, as it is a self-limiting reaction and can come to a halt in seconds. In addition, fusion energy does not produce any nuclear or radioactive waste as nuclear energy or fossil fuels. Fusion energy is entirely renewable, sourced from attainable materials, amazingly efficient, and is the most environmentally friendly source of energy in the world.
If Fusion Energy is so Great…Why Haven’t We Been Using it all this Time?
Fusion energy has many drawbacks which all fall into two categories: technology and money. As fusion energy stands today, it is possible, however, the amount of energy needed to complete the process is often more than the output. We simply do not have the technology to make fusion commercially viable, as the conditions for the reaction are extremely hard to achieve and sustain. Though, estimates from several sources predict that fusion energy may be commercially viable in 20 or 30 years. Even if we are able to successfully harness the power of fusion energy, it might still be too expensive to ever build plants. This is why fusion energy is a gamble. Billions of dollars dedicated to producing fusion energy could alternatively be used to create more sustainable sources of renewable energy like windmills and solar panels.
So, this begs the ultimate question: is it worth the risk of spending billions to achieve an almost inconceivable form of energy, or should we settle and invest in technology that is far less efficient but has already proven itself?
Writers Note: If this article interested you, I urge that you do independent research. Fusion is a complicated process and I could not fit all of its intricacies in this article.
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