US companies and industry experts are worried they’re losing their decades-long lead in the race to master this near-limitless form of clean energy, as new fusion companies sprout across China, and Beijing outspends DC.
Honestly, I think we’re getting really very close! We’ve been in this cycle of eternally “30 years away”. These days we’re in a cycle of “5-10 years away”. That sounds like a joke, but we really are closing in.
Now that said, while we can eventually get fusion to work, it will absolutely not solve all of our energy problems. Once it’s actually possible, it will still be the most expensive source of energy available. Which means once we can do it, we won’t actually want to do it.
Fusion energy is still a distant pipe dream at this point. Don’t believe the hype.
Honestly, I think we’re getting really very close! We’ve been in this cycle of eternally “30 years away”. These days we’re in a cycle of “5-10 years away”. That sounds like a joke, but we really are closing in.
Now that said, while we can eventually get fusion to work, it will absolutely not solve all of our energy problems. Once it’s actually possible, it will still be the most expensive source of energy available. Which means once we can do it, we won’t actually want to do it.
Maybe. The people who have always said 30 years were scientists and engineers. Those now saying 5 to 10 years are VC backed startups.
Progress is definitely being made but I’ll believe the optimists when I see the results.
Why would China lie?!
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