JET's final nuclear fusion experiment produced a record-breaking 69 megajoules of heat. Nice.

Clean energy could be ‘closer than ever’ after a nuclear fusion machine smashed a record::JET’s final nuclear fusion experiment produced a record-breaking 69 megajoules of heat. Nice.

  • Cocodapuf@lemmy.worldEnglish
    85·
    9 months ago

    Tokamaks… sigh.

    When it finally works, you will have invented the most expensive form of energy we’ve ever imagined. Congratulations.

    I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m excited for fusion. Fusion has some amazing potential as a power source and propulsion for space ships. But outside of that application, I don’t know… I’m pissemistic. I do not think it will be the global energy revolution so many people seem to think it will be. It will not be unlimited cheap energy, not be a longshot.

    • umbrella@lemmy.mlEnglish
      2·
      9 months ago

      its gonna be unlimited expensive energy, which is a start.

      except we needed a start 20 years ago, not now lol

      • Cocodapuf@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        9 months ago

        Is it unlimited though? I mean sure, the fuel is abundant, we have hydrogen. But the other support materials are quite limited, berillium, helium, nuclear engineers. I don’t think we have enough of all of that for an energy revolution.

    • RubberElectrons@lemmy.worldEnglish
      21·
      9 months ago

      There are several other topologies with promise. But even a tokamak can use its first wall latent heat to turn the archaic steam turbine.

      While I also have low expectations for plasma density in tokamaks, they’re able to keep plasma at fusion temperatures for minutes at a time.

      • Jimmyeatsausage@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        9 months ago

        And if there’s one thing we’ve all learned, it’s that if it’s cheap to make, the trillionaire owners won’t overcharge for it.

        Yes, I think we’ll have trillionaires first.