Sustainability and Resilience

  • 1.  Will Fusion Power Cut Carbon Emissions?

    Posted 07-02-2025 08:14 AM

    The article suggests fusion power is closing in on practical power generation. Will we really see it within a decade? Will it be a significant part of the solution for carbon emissions?

    https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-signs-deal-to-buy-fusion-energy-from-bill-gates-backed-nuclear-startup-9017672b?st=77Tm4A&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink


    #EmergingTechnologies
    #EnergyEfficiencyPowerProduction

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    William McAnally Ph.D., P.E., BC.CE, BC.NE, F.ASCE
    ENGINEER
    Columbus MS
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  • 2.  RE: Will Fusion Power Cut Carbon Emissions?

    Posted 07-16-2025 03:29 PM
    Edited by Robert Higgins 07-16-2025 05:00 PM

    Bill -  Fusion has promised low cost, clean, energy since it was first seriously investigated 70 years ago.  When it is perfected, operation of fusion reactors will play a major role in reducing carbon emissions.  Years ago experimental fusion reactors proved that they can produce thermal energy.  The nagging problem has been, and continues to be improving efficiency of the reaction.

    There are two (2) types of fusion reactors under development by many groups in several countries.  The two companies mentioned are recent comers.  Commonwealth Fusion Systems, with a goal of a 400+ megawatt (electric) reactor during the 2030s, is pursuing Magnetic Confinement Fusion (MCF) with the tokamak concept (magnets confine an ultra high temperature hydrogen compound in a torus shape).  To date no MCF experimental system has produced more (thermal) energy than it consumed... "net energy gain" has been < 1.0.  This does not address converting thermal energy to usable electrical energy.  In 10+ years this company expects to solve all of the associated problems for an electric utility sized generating station to provide dependable electric power?  I don't think so.

    Helion Energy's approach is Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) where a high power laser "zaps" a small quantity of a hydrogen compound causing fusion before the plasma created can expand.  An experimental ICF at Livermore Lab had a brief net energy gain >1.0, for the first time anywhere, in 2022.  Helion plans to convert thermal energy directly to useable electric energy from the electric or magnetic fields created by fusion... don't ask me how this is supposed to work.  All this for a commercial 50 MW unit by 2028... no way, in my opinion.

    I've skipped or condensed many of the problems with converting thermal energy to dependable electrical energy... we can get into that if desired.

    I believe both Google and Microsoft have entered into these contracts solely for public relations... just to demonstrate that both are willing to  spend money toward a clean energy future; which will come, just not in the next 10 years, or so.

    Rob



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    Robert Higgins P.E., Life Member ASCE, Life Member ASME, Retired Member AISC

    Principal Engineer (Generation) for design / construction management and upgrades at electric generating stations for a mid-size electric utility. (Retired)

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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Will Fusion Power Cut Carbon Emissions?

    Posted 07-27-2025 12:21 PM

    William, thank you for raising such an important and timely question.
    Fusion power is certainly re-emerging in the spotlight - especially in the context of sustainable energy futures and high-profile corporate commitments like those from Helion and Commonwealth Fusion Systems.

    As Robert rightly pointed out, the engineering challenges remain significant - particularly in achieving stable net energy gain and scaling to grid-level generation. But at the same time, it's important to recognize that:

    • Even if a fully commercial fusion plant isn't online in the early 2030s,
      the investments, research milestones, and public-private interest are accelerating rapidly.

    • The involvement of companies like Google and Microsoft reflects not just PR, but a strategic long-term bet on being part of the post-carbon energy landscape.

    To put some numbers into context:

    - Commonwealth Fusion Systems (backed by MIT) aims to demonstrate its SPARC tokamak in the late 2020s, with a commercial-scale ARC reactor by 2035–2040 (MIT News, 2021).

    - Helion Energy targets commercial electricity by 2028, but many independent assessments suggest realistic deployment closer to 2035+.

    - The ITER project in France expects "first plasma" by 2025, with full fusion operations only by the 2040s.

    - Reports from the IEA and U.S. DOE consistently project fusion's contribution to grids not before the late 2030s or 2040s, at best.

    In the short term, real decarbonization will continue to depend on:

    - expanding renewables and storage,

    - modernizing energy infrastructure,

    - and boosting energy efficiency at scale.

    But looking ahead 15–20 years, fusion could very well complement the global energy mix as a stable, dispatchable, low-carbon power source.
    The question isn't whether fusion will cut emissions - but when, how fast, and how well it can integrate into a broader energy system in transition.

    Best regards,
    Darya



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    Darya Stanskova M.ASCE
    Cost Estimator, Construction Engineer, Power Engineer, Project Manager
    Fort Myers FL
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    Original Message


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