The Future of Fusion Energy

Wonderfully clear book by by fusion researchers Jason Parisi and Justin Ball. Covers history, current status and prospect for Nuclear Fusion.

"This book explains with astonishing clarity the science, technology and politics behind the greatest quest of our time — fusion energy. It is a delight to read." Sir Steven Cowley Director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and former CEO of the UK Atomic Energy Authority "Excellent for the reader who wants to understand the fusion quest." Dr Bernard Bigot Director-General of the ITER project "The text provides an interesting history of previous and anticipated accomplishments, ending with a chapter on the relationship of fusion power to nuclear weaponry. They conclude on an optimistic note, well worth being understood by the general public." CHOICE The gap between the state of fusion energy research and public understanding is vast. In an entertaining and engaging narrative, this popular science book gives readers the basic tools to understand how fusion works, its potential, and contemporary research problems. Written by two young researchers in the field, The Future of Fusion Energy explains how physical laws and the Earth's energy resources motivate the current fusion program — a program that is approaching a critical point. The world's largest science project and biggest ever fusion reactor, ITER, is nearing completion. Its success could trigger a worldwide race to build a power plant, but failure could delay fusion by decades. To these ends, this book details how ITER's results could be used to design an economically competitive power plant as well as some of the many alternative fusion concepts.

This carefully researched book presents facts and arguments showing, beyond a doubt, that nuclear fusion power will not be technically feasible in time to satisfy the world's urgent need for climate-neutral energy.

The author describes the 70-year history of nuclear fusion; the vain attempts to construct an energy-generating nuclear fusion power reactor, and shows that even in the most optimistic scenario nuclear fusion, in spite of the claims of its proponents, will not be able to make a sizable contribution to the energy mix in this century, whatever the outcome of ITER. This implies that fusion power will not be a factor in combating climate change, and that the race to save the climate with carbon-free energy will have been won or lost long before the first nuclear fusion power station comes on line.

Aimed at the general public as well as those whose decisions directly affect energy policy, this book will be a valuable resource for informing future debates.