Hanzo_The_Ninja t1_ir6mw53 wrote on October 5, 2022 at 6:43 PM

I feel like we're gambling on (uncertain) technologies like fusion because the (proven) alternatives are so much more difficult.

RichardsLeftNipple t1_ir72adn wrote on October 5, 2022 at 8:20 PM

Solar is going to be a very transformative power source for developing nations. Because it can be bought in small quantities.

While it's less attractive for developed nations because it's still more expensive than fission and coal.

Fusion for developed nations is very attractive. Mostly because it can plug into the already existing infrastructure. The potential is there, which is what makes it attractive.

Also both have the nice feature of reducing hydrocarbon dependency. Which would lead to a more stable economy and not let places like Russia and Saudi Arabia have a gun against your economy's head.

Hanzo_The_Ninja t1_ir74nz6 wrote on October 5, 2022 at 8:34 PM

It's not actually clear if fusion power will even be viable within any of our lifetimes though -- for example there's supply issues with the necessary tritium, there's problems replicating the breakthroughs, etc. -- so "betting big" on fusion is quite literally gambling on an uncertain technology, at least for now.

CriticalUnit t1_ir9bb6a wrote on October 6, 2022 at 8:41 AM

> Solar is going to be a very transformative power source for developing nations. Because it can be bought in small quantities.

100% Agree

>While it's less attractive for developed nations because it's still more expensive than fission and coal.

100% wrong. This hasn't been true for a while now. Today solar and wind are often cheaper than even running a fully paid for Coal or nuclear plant.

https://cleantechnica.com/2022/07/21/most-renewables-cheaper-than-cheapest-coal-in-g20/

icbint t1_ir9t5qa wrote on October 6, 2022 at 12:20 PM

The prove. Options don’t even come close

Hanzo_The_Ninja t1_iradt7g wrote on October 6, 2022 at 2:57 PM

Cutting back energy use, adopting carbon sequestering technologies without the requirement that they're profitable, and implementing nuclear / solar / tidal / geothermal are already viable today, the only deterrent is they're expensive and would require the 1% to chip in. It's not even clear fusion on the other hand will even be technologically viable in any of our lifetimes.