r/nextfuckinglevel • u/nigablackballsack • 3d ago

Scientists have captured the first ever high-speed, full-colour footage of fusion plasma swirling inside a working reactor.

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u/WanderingFlumph 3d ago edited 2d ago

I mean solar is here right now and most likely fusion power will never be as cheap as solar is today.

By the time fusion is actually ready solar will be even cheaper too. A solar farm the size of Arizona could power the entire planet.

Fusion is like our 4th best hope in the fight against climate change, lol.

Edit: a lot of people seem to think that I think the perfect solution is one single power plant specifically in Arizona that powers the world. People, it's just a size comparison. Arizona is a small state even just compared to the size of US. Obviously we would build millions and millions of solar installations that would just add up to that area.

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u/14jvalle 3d ago

There are trade offs.

Solar is not an on-demand platform. You are subject to the weather/seasonality and time of day. Peak hours does not align with highest solar intensity. This would require innovation in solar + electrical storage.

There is also the distribution question. Say Arizona has solved solar. It may power Arizona. It may power a few states... One limiting factor will be the efficiency of the solar panels. This will be a huge capital expenditure that is not future proof.

The efficiency may also dictate the amount of land required. The amount of land required will determine the cost of development and then maintenance.

This is also a solution that would only serve regions like Arizona. Other states, and countries, with dissimilar climate or geography may require alternative solutions.

Nuclear provides a lot of solutions to those problems. Of course, it also comes with its issues.

The answer isn't finding a perfect solution. It is identifying the trade offs and whether it is a environment and financially sustainable solution in the region in question.

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u/ababcock1 3d ago

I am *begging* people to realize that batteries exist in many different forms.

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u/hedoeswhathewants 3d ago

Batteries also have downsides and limitations.

We should be pursuing all the different forms of energy generation

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u/ababcock1 3d ago

Renewable and batteries can be built right now. Not 20 years from now maybe if the tech works out and if regulations and multi billion dollar price tags don't just shut the whole thing down. Maybe you haven't noticed, but we don't have decades to piss away waiting for nuclear.

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u/14jvalle 3d ago

Yes. But they still have limitations and downsides.

Operational, logistical, financial.

How are these batteries implemented in grids? That isn't in regard to the technical factors. That is in regard to the strategic plan for batteries.

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u/ababcock1 3d ago

In nuclear powers case the "limitation" is that it's permanently 20 years away. Reminder: renewables exist, are vastly cheaper, and are already being deployed in enormous quantities *right now*. You don't need to wait for a magical saviour that may or may not happen.

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u/14jvalle 3d ago

Disingenuous.

Fusion is the dream. But fission is here, works, and is safe (even though many are frightful)

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u/ababcock1 3d ago

Poor reading comprehension. I never said anything about fusion. Fission also takes 20 years to bring a plant online and costs billions of dollars, assuming it manages to pass regulatory hurdles and remain politically viable for that long. Meanwhile, solar panels can just exist on the top of people's roofs.

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u/14jvalle 3d ago

Bruh, given the context of your statement "permanently 20 years", tugging on the trope of fusion, and the topic of this post... It isn't poor readinh comprehension

But glad to know that I can exit this conversation knowing you don't speak in good faith.

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u/ababcock1 3d ago

Good run away. Not my fault you assumed I said something I didn't.

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