Fusion energy
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Review Fusion energy
Friedrich Wagner, Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik, Greifswald 17491, Germany Address all correspondence to Friedrich Wagner at [email protected] (Received 28 February 2017; accepted 15 May 2018)
ABSTRACT Fusion energy is one of the options to contribute to the energy demand of future generations without adding to global warming. In this paper, we present the status of fusion energy research on the basis of magnetic confinement. Fusion energy is one of the options to contribute to the energy demand of future generations without contributing to global warming. In this paper, we present the status of fusion energy research on the basis of magnetic confinement. In France, the first fusion reactor ITER is under construction. Its success will be measured on the expectation to deliver 500 MW thermal power—a factor of 10 above the power to maintain the energy producing process. ITER is based on the tokamak concept. In addition, Wendelstein 7-X, an ambitious stellarator, has recently started operation. Both confinement concepts—the tokamak and the stellarator—will be discussed along with general topics regarding fusion technology, operational safety, fusion waste, possible electricity costs, and roadmaps toward a fusion reactor as a power source. Keywords: energy generation; environmentally benign; superconducting
DISCUSSION POINTS • ITER will demonstrate the feasibility of fusion energy. • T he use of fusion energy will be inherently safe and not pollute the environment. • T here is an urgent need to develop fusion materials which can withstand the harsh environment of high neutron and power fluxes. • R enewable energies will not be able to meet the demand of all energy consuming sectors in highly developed industrial countries. Therefore, all carbon-free energy sources should be developed including fast fission reactors, CCS-technologies, and fusion.
Introduction Mankind’s energy use will continue to grow at a rate steeper than the rise of population because the per capita energy consumption will also continue to increase. Till the middle of this century, the UN expects the world population to grow to 9.7 bn people. The IEA in its World Energy Outlook 2016 assumes an increase in primary energy usage of 1% per year. If this trend were to continue till 2050, the world primary energy consumption would increase from 160 to 230 PW h [1 PW h = 1015 W h] allocating on the average about 2700 W continuous power use
per person. On the other hand, the business-as-usual burning of fossil fuels, which today still contribute with 85% the lion’s share of the world energy production, cannot continue as baseline supply technology. The concerns about global warming— the consequence of burning fossil fuels—intensify from one United Nations Climate Change Conference to the next one. However, the options for carbon-free energy production and the transition from chemical energy to electricity as primary energy source—as mandatory for a full decarbonisation of all human economic activities—are not man
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