Reply To: Bang or no bang

[Brian H]

benf wrote: I agree our efforts to present fusion in a positive light are made more difficult by events in Japan. But there is still an even larger world event coming that people will have to face. The prospect of energy shortages in an ongoing expanding population, even with the advent of renewables such as solar and wind power. People adapt and change though. We went from fire to the development of electricity, even though electricity can be considered dangerous when not handled properly. We have to continually make the same case for fusion power, such as Focus Fusion, which would be far safer than fission nuclear power….

That “advent” is more like a rape and pillage. They tie up and degrade existing plant, (by forcing them to do rapid on/off cycling to make up for the irregularity and unpredictability of renewables), deflect obscene amounts of money into low-output generation, and play havoc with the environment.

Economics will first force widespread adoption of natural gas generation, with much upgraded sourcing and pipeline networks, and then FF will kick the whole applecart over.

In both cases, the question of “bang for the buck” will decide.