Reply To: Proliferation?

[vansig]

what’s the actual recyclability of the beryllium anode?

if 1 anode = 1 kg beryllium, and if focus fusion must consume beryllium,
essentially destroying it through wear by the odd neutron,
such that the anode cannot be refurbished,
then consuming 250 t/year beryllium supports only about 250 GW energy production:

250,000 kg / 1 kg per anode = 250,000 anodes
/ 12 anode replacements per year x 12 MW per reactor
= 250 GW

Overall global beryllium resource estimates are thought to be approximately 80,000 tons with the Americas, Central Africa and Eastern Europe having the most concentrated and economically viable deposits.
— http://www.ibcadvancedalloys.com/s/AboutBeryllium.asp

at 250 t/y, this would yield 320 years; but as of 2010,
global consumption of beryllium is now already 620 t/y.

80,000/620 = 129y to gone
80,000/(620+250)= 92y to gone

we must plan to search for more beryllium, on other planets and asteroids