All our energy troubles may be over
 

Interesting article:-
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46219656

A very old chestnut. When I was studying for my PMG 2nd Class in 1958, the press and the scientific community were full of Project Zeta. All I can remember was that Harwell and Newcastle University were involved and it necessitated use of a torus - my first introduction to toroidal components. It was going to produce electricity at such a low cost that within 30 years it would not be cost-effective to charge customers for electricity - the cost of invoicing would outweigh the production costs.


Every decade since then (or thereabouts), an announcement appears about a breakthrough in nuclear fusion, such that within 30 years electricity will be produced by this technology. It always seems to be 30 years away, keeping its distance rather like the end of the rainbow. The references always used to be to the potentially low production cost but in latter years that seems to have lost importance and the claims now are more biased towards low-carbon and climate change benefits.

Hi Ron,
These latest claims are denying the 30 years hence story and saying it will be with us in 5 years! They are claiming reduced costs.

Like you I'll believe it when I see it.


Jim

Controlled fusion has been the Holy Grail come pipe dream for 60 years or more. Let's hope something comes of it. My own thinking is it has to happen with the amount of effort now being poured into it.

I hope the optimists have it right.

Super conductor temperatures seem to keep rising. This must help.

A dedicated,cynical conspiracy theorist (not me you understand) might say that it is already available and has been for decades. Only the greed of the corporate ....etc..etc..etc.

I seem to remember a false start about 25 or so years ago called 'Cold Fusion.' Didn't need the fancy paraphernalia of torus reactors or super lasers, just a sort of chemical lab something like that in 'Breaking Bad' for cooking Meth.
But apparently the people who claimed it had been using Meth … :eat_arrow::big_tongue:

No-no-no, Drax is the future.

.... as soon as Yorkshire gets its independence. :jester:

Can't be long. We've been bloody contrary for decades.

Once it's explained to Yorkshire how much brass it would cost them, they'll totally skin out. Or alternatively, we could go through a sort of Yorkexit similar to the farce we're going through now … but: … (goes into Yorky mode) … "If it costs more than five bob … appen tha'll give it tut miss."

:sweat::big_tongue: