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There are two methods of producing nuclear energy, fission and fusion. Both methods are explored on this web site.
From an electricity utility perspective nuclear energy obtained via fast neutron fission of heavy elements is the only presently available source of non-fossil energy that can sustainably and economically provide the uninterruptible electricity and heat required to displace fossil fuels.
The sun is powered by fusion so renewable energy is actually fusion energy. However, due to the rotation of planet Earth about its axis and due to the inclination of that axis with respect to Earth's orbital plane at any particular point on Earth's surface renewable energy generation intermittent. Solar and wind electricity generators require efficient daily and seasonal energy storage and related efficient long distance transmission to provide uninterruptible electricity. The costs of making intermittent solar and wind sourced electricity uninterruptible are usually prohibitive. It is usually more practical to price uninterruptible electricity and interruptible electricity differently so that applications that require dependable electricity pay the related costs.
Advances in Fast Neutron Reactor (FNR) technology have rendered obsolete past concerns about reactor safety and reactor spent fuel waste disposal. However, the present wasteful use of the limited inventory of Pu-239 as a fuel for water moderated reactors is an enormous concern. As fossil fuels are phased out the sustainable amount of reliable power will be constrained by the Pu-239 inventory.
Other than via renewable energy, fusion based electricity generation is difficult and expensive to realize on Earth. As long as low cost fission fuel is available, the cost per kWhe of Earth based fusion energy will remain several times the cost per kWhe of Earth based fission energy. However, once the supply of U-235 contained in mineable natural uranium is exhausted that assumption may no longer be true. The cost per kg of obtaining uranium from the oceans is likely at least two orders of magnitude higher than the cost per kg of mined uranium today. The possible avenues of future cost relief are breeding of Pu-239, U-233 and H-3 in FNRs and mining He-3 from the surface of the moon.
It is the intent of this author to eventually produce web pages addressing all of the above mentioned topics.
This web page last updated April 11, 2018.
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