Fusion Message Board

In this space, visitors are invited to post any comments, questions, or skeptical observations about Philo T. Farnsworth's contributions to the field of Nuclear Fusion research.

Subject: Re: Fuel Costs and economics
Date: Jul 25, 4:35 pm
Poster: Richard Hull

On Jul 25, 4:35 pm, Richard Hull wrote:


>In other words, one possible benchmark of fusion power status is that it should have a fuel cost in the range of .5 cents per KWh. As fission plants become more economical, that figure should drop. Obviously this is a hypothetical discussion, and fuel cost would be only one aspect of total cost.

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True, very true. So many are concerned with "break even", they forget the old cold economics. Nothing displaces anything unless extreme economics forces the old system out. Extant infrastructure stands for a lot.........A whole lot. Extant jobs for extant technology speak even louder.

It would not mean spit if we produced 60 times more power out than in if the fuel cost $100.18/kwh......., Or if the fuel cost only .005cents/kwhr and a 10 megawatt plant would cost 6 billion dollars.

Even if fusion power is over unity, the fuel costs equal to fission or coal/kwh and the plant cost is just about the same, there will be little rush or inclination to move to fusion power. Remember, infrastructure.

To do over unity fusion is just a micro step in the process to getting the power of fusion powering up the kitchen toaster.

Fission may be damned economical, but there are virtually zero systems on the drawing board for new installation. The technology is virtually frozen at the 1970's level as regards major reactor redesign or even experiments to improve same. Such improvements are limited to fuel recovery, packaging, use efficiency, and other old technology buff-ups of extant older fission plants.

I am an immediate fission proponent as many have gathered from past posts. We can do it now in calm or later in haste, but I predict we will do it! (re-vitalize fission power plant construction)

Fusion just won't be there when we need it 20 years from now, I predict. Especially if our old tattered, worn out and multi-punched fusion dance cards and moonlit promises by prior fusioneers are any indicator.

Richard Hull