Nuclear Fusion.

[Atheist]

I heard on Radio four this evening that a fusion machine in the USA has managed to produce more energy than was being put into it, for the first time suggesting there is a way to viable clean power. Apparently, the key issue was whether or not they had managed to sustain a hugely high temperature or not. I hope this all goes well.
I can't do a link.

[Hopkirk]

That means fusion power is probably 20 years away.

(It always is)

[webbo3]

https://www.ft.com/content/4b6f0fab-66ef-4e33-adec-cfc345589dc7

[Buenchico]

The JET laboratory, here in the UK, has also been making advances in the field. From February of this year:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60312633

There are already plans in place to build a commercial nuclear fusion plant in Nottinghamshire:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-63119465

[webbo3]

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2350921-nuclear-fusion-has-there-been-a-breakthrough-and-what-will-it-mean/

[HeavensToBetsy]

The US government are making an official announcement at 1500 GMT tomorrow.

https://www.energy.gov/livestream

[Old_Geezer]

Every step forward is to be welcomed. But still a way off being commercially viable.

[Atheist]

Thanks for the links. I'm a bit surprised that this has been made public. Is it the USA trying to scare the opposition (cf UFO reverse engineering etc)? I think we'll get fusion power, but I hope it's sooner rather than later. It could possibly remove a lot of tension in the world. Or it could unleash US dominance.

[douglas9401]

Meanwhile instructions go out to warm up a couple of coal power stations.

Praise be practicality.

[Buenchico]

Update:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63950962

[beso]

Although the reaction itself had a net energy release, the full cycle efficiency from power into the system to power out was about 0.5 percent.

There are still massive hurdles to overcome. One they never talk about is that fusion releases high energy neutron. All known structural materials are embrittled by high energy neutron bombardment so the life of any structure is severely limited.

They are still needing to find an effective shield material to protect the structures.

[beso]

The main driver is the desire for a complex centralised source of energy. The complexity will always be expensive.

Meanwhile renewable energy is all around us and doesn't require breakthroughs to become viable.

I have a PV solar system on my home and my power bills are credits.

[naomi24]

Beso, if I'm not mistaken you live in a place where climate isn't an issue. I'm not sure those systems work efficiently here all year round ... but I might be wrong.

When I read this news a few days ago my first thought was 'We have lift off'. Great potential for the future in more ways than one I think.