Korea and the United States - have teamed up on an experiment to produce 500
million watts of fusion power for 500 seconds and longer by 2020,
demonstrating key scientific and engineering aspects of fusion at the scale
of a reactor.
However, even though the United States is a contributor to this experiment,
known as ITER, it has yet to commit to the full program needed to develop a
domestic fusion reactor to produce electricity for the American power grid.
Meanwhile other nations are moving forward to implement fusion as a key
ingredient of their energy security.
Indeed, fusion research facilities more modern than anything in the United
States are either under construction or operating in China, Germany, Japan
and South Korea. The will and enthusiasm of governments in Asia to fill
their energy needs with fusion, as soon as possible, is nearly palpable.
What has been lacking in the United States is the political and economic
will. We need serious public investment to develop materials that can
withstand the harsh fusion environment, sustain hot plasma indefinitely and
integrate all these features in an experimental facility to produce
continuous fusion power.
Peter D. Revers
How Seawater Can Power the World - New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/11/opinion/11Prager.html?src=me
<http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/11/opinion/11Prager.html?src=me&ref=general>
&ref=general
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