Fusion Isn't the Holy Grail of Energy
Postedabout 2 months agoActiveabout 2 months ago
nickmcgreivy.substack.comResearchstory
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Fusion EnergySustainable EnergyEnergy Innovation
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Fusion Energy
Sustainable Energy
Energy Innovation
The article argues that fusion energy is not the ultimate solution to energy problems, sparking a discussion on alternative approaches and skepticism around certain fusion methods.
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Nov 11, 2025 at 11:11 AM EST
about 2 months ago
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I wish it was also adressing the Helion Energy approach, too (FRC plasma configuration, pulsed operation, extracting electric energy directly from the magnetic field), which I see as a possible "out" for fusion energy, but regard with extreme skepticism. The only good independent analysis on that that I know is some older ARPA-E report that indicates that Helion, after 6 prototype iterations, is at 8T for "final B" (magnetic flux density), but needs to get to 40T (which sounds a bit challenging to me).
I often encounter extreme optimism towards fusion ("it's only a matter of time/research progress") which is completely unjustifiable in my view.
I think it is absolutely worth it to continue with ITER and other fusion projects, but relying on fusion long-term for electrical power is insanely irresponsible/naive and premature in my view.