Two heretical thoughts on fusion and climate

Wallace Manheimer

Energy & Environment, 2016, vol. 27, issue 6-7, 765-784

Abstract: This article explores two heretical thoughts regarding nuclear fusion as an energy source and the Earth’s climate. Nuclear fusion can only contribute to mid-century power by breeding fuel for nuclear fission reactors rather than providing steam to generate electricity. Converting 232 Th and 238 U to fuel for nuclear fission reactors is much less demanding. Fusion breeding could lead to sustainable, economical, carbon free energy with little or no proliferation risk. The second heretical thought involves climate. Assertions that increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are leading to an environmental crisis can be checked out on the Internet. This paper suggests (1) the benefits of nuclear fusion can be realised long before it can economically generate steam and (2) the Internet search indicates that nothing in the past suggests that future climate will be significantly different before mid-century because of rising levels of CO 2 .

Keywords: Fusion breeding; sustainable mid-century power; heretical thoughts; Paris climate agreement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:engenv:v:27:y:2016:i:6-7:p:765-784

DOI: 10.1177/0958305X16674636

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