Between 1900 and 2000 the world population increased from 1.5 to 6.1 billion people (Max Roser) and by the end of 2100 the population is expected at 11 billion people, this rapid acceleration means large scale environmentally friendly energy is needed sooner rather than later (The Guardian). Fusion energy will be a future energy source, with the ITER machine under construction based on the ‘Tokamak’ concept of magnetic confinement. ITER is predicted to start operating in 2019, with electricity generation to follow thirty-forty years later (ITER). In a fusion reaction, energy is released when two light atomic nuclei are fused together to form one heavier atom. This process powers the Sun and stars with the formation of hydrogen to form helium.
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It is estimated that there will be enough Lithium to power fusion energy for 1,000 years (ITER). These elements are natural and help to reduce the carbon footprint compared to the search for coal, oil and operating other renewable energy sources. CO2 emissions are expected to rise by 60% in 2030 if global government plans keep allowing industries to spend hundreds of billion dollars on coal power stations (Green Peace), the largest threat to climate change that we are facing. Coal-fired power plants currently fuel 41% of the world’s electricity, with 93% of South Africa’s energy deriving from coal (World Coal Association 2012). There are no CO2 or other harmful atmospheric emissions from the process of fusion energy it only produces helium which can then be re-used for other factories. The 100kg of Deutrium and 3 tons of natural Lithium needed per year will generate around 7 billion kWh. In comparison a coal-fired power plant needs 1.5 million tonnes of fuel and produces 4-5 million tonnes of CO2 (Fusion for Energy). The only issue is that due to it not being operational until hopefully the middle of the century in terms of climate change this is not soon …show more content…
The Safety and Environmental Assessment of Fusion Power (SEAFP) and Power Plant Conceptual Study (PPCS) have been looking into waste management for fusion and have come up with two main ideas. The first is to recycle the waste within the nuclear industry and the second is the use of clearance which sees the removal of radioactive materials through a regulatory body, this in turn reduces the cost of disposal as non-radioactive waste is generally lower than that of radioactive waste (International Atomic Energy Agency). Michael Loughlin addressed some key issues that the cause concern regarding ITER including the fear of any potential explosions. The chamber will never have more than one tenth of a gram of hydrogen fuel at any time and if any disruption occurs the reaction will simply cool down and end, therefore a nuclear explosion simply cannot occur in the chamber (ITER). Concern as to whether the chamber itself will decay over time has come up, and how will the chamber be disposed of if this happens. The chamber will have a port, blanket and diverter in order to provide some radiation shielding and to keep the highest radioactivity in the centre of the chamber. A two metre thick bioshield (concrete wall) surrounds the machine to protect workers and the environment. The radioactive output level is estimated at t .01 mSv
It is estimated that there will be enough Lithium to power fusion energy for 1,000 years (ITER). These elements are natural and help to reduce the carbon footprint compared to the search for coal, oil and operating other renewable energy sources. CO2 emissions are expected to rise by 60% in 2030 if global government plans keep allowing industries to spend hundreds of billion dollars on coal power stations (Green Peace), the largest threat to climate change that we are facing. Coal-fired power plants currently fuel 41% of the world’s electricity, with 93% of South Africa’s energy deriving from coal (World Coal Association 2012). There are no CO2 or other harmful atmospheric emissions from the process of fusion energy it only produces helium which can then be re-used for other factories. The 100kg of Deutrium and 3 tons of natural Lithium needed per year will generate around 7 billion kWh. In comparison a coal-fired power plant needs 1.5 million tonnes of fuel and produces 4-5 million tonnes of CO2 (Fusion for Energy). The only issue is that due to it not being operational until hopefully the middle of the century in terms of climate change this is not soon …show more content…
The Safety and Environmental Assessment of Fusion Power (SEAFP) and Power Plant Conceptual Study (PPCS) have been looking into waste management for fusion and have come up with two main ideas. The first is to recycle the waste within the nuclear industry and the second is the use of clearance which sees the removal of radioactive materials through a regulatory body, this in turn reduces the cost of disposal as non-radioactive waste is generally lower than that of radioactive waste (International Atomic Energy Agency). Michael Loughlin addressed some key issues that the cause concern regarding ITER including the fear of any potential explosions. The chamber will never have more than one tenth of a gram of hydrogen fuel at any time and if any disruption occurs the reaction will simply cool down and end, therefore a nuclear explosion simply cannot occur in the chamber (ITER). Concern as to whether the chamber itself will decay over time has come up, and how will the chamber be disposed of if this happens. The chamber will have a port, blanket and diverter in order to provide some radiation shielding and to keep the highest radioactivity in the centre of the chamber. A two metre thick bioshield (concrete wall) surrounds the machine to protect workers and the environment. The radioactive output level is estimated at t .01 mSv