Re-examining the role of nuclear fusion in a renewables-based energy mix

Abstract

Fusion energy is often regarded as a long-term solution to the world's energy needs. However, even after solving the critical research challenges, engineering and materials science will still impose significant constraints on the characteristics of a fusion power plant. Meanwhile, the global energy grid must transition to low-carbon sources by 2050 to prevent the worst effects of climate change. We review three factors affecting fusion's future trajectory: (1) the significant drop in the price of renewable energy, (2) the intermittency of renewable sources and implications for future energy grids, and (3) the recent proposition of intermediate-level nuclear waste as a product of fusion. Within the scenario assumed by our premises, we find that while there remains a clear motivation to develop fusion power plants, this motivation is likely weakened by the time they become available. We also conclude that most current fusion reactor designs do not take these factors into account and, to increase market penetration, fusion research should consider relaxed nuclear waste design criteria, raw material availability constraints and load-following designs with pulsed operation.

Plant efficiency: a sensitivity analysis of the capacity factor for fusion power plants with high recirculated power

“…In a similar vein, a reduction of the plant efficiency impacts the energy payback time (EPBT), i.e., the time a power plant must operate before it returns the energy invested in constructing it with a cradle-to-grave system boundary [15,19], and thereby the attractiveness of fusion as a sustainable energy source.…”

“…[8]. Yet, some capability of demand following could be desirable, if only to stabilise the network and reduce overall system costs [15]. As a reference we recall that sources such as coal, natural gas and geothermal energy have capacity factors around 50%, mostly because these are used to match demand fluctuations [9].…”

The helium bubble: Prospects for 3He-fuelled nuclear fusion

“…The currently accessible resources of lithium could provide at least a few thousand years of fusion power, at today's level of consumption, 6 a number which also depends on the needs for other usages (batteries for example). Recovery from seawater would increase the known resources by several orders of magnitude but the environmental and energy costs of such extraction need to be studied in more details.…”

Boosting the Ni‐Catalyzed Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of Anisole Using Scrap Catalytic Converters

“…Indeed, the sustainable, efficient, and large-scale production of electricity or hydrogen is still not fully developed, although remarkable results are daily obtained, such as in the case of fusion energy. [6][7][8][9][10] As a result, more immediate ways to reduce the excessive exploitation of fossil fuels and the consequent uncontrolled atmospheric accumulation of CO 2 are necessary. [11][12][13][14] Currently, biofuels represent the greenest alternative to petroleum derivatives, since their use does not imply the release of fossil-stored carbon dioxide.…”

“…Indeed, the sustainable, efficient, and large‐scale production of electricity or hydrogen is still not fully developed, although remarkable results are daily obtained, such as in the case of fusion energy. [ 6–10 ]…”